Brackish Immaculatus Puffer (Arothron immaculatus)

The Immaculatus or Yellow Eye Puffer is typically found in marine and reef habitats throughout the Indo Pacific, but like several other pufferfish species it occasionally ventures into brackish water areas like estuaries and lagoons and are able to adapt to salinity as low as 10ppt. These fish were collected in mangrove swamp habitat in Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka, where salinity ranges from 10 – 18ppt. Although they will likely migrate out to the Indian Ocean as they grow, juveniles may remain in brackish conditions for extended periods. In the aquarium, we recommend a salinity of around 15ppt with a gradual increase as the fish approach adulthood. A hardy, active, and outgoing species, they will do well with similarly sized fast moving tankmates like Scats, Monos, or Chromides.