Origin
Native to the western Atlantic—from Massachusetts to Brazil—including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Favors seagrass beds, sandy lagoons, and inshore reefs.

Visual & Functional Appeal
Its short, round body is covered in fixed or semi-rigid spines, giving it a bristly look even when not inflated. Dark eyes and a wide, comical mouth give it a dog-like charm. Coloration ranges from sandy tan to speckled brown.

Purpose
Brings bold personality and visual interest to predator tanks. Inflates as a defense mechanism and explores its environment with intelligent, curious behavior.

Importance
Highly interactive and hardy. A great entry point into pufferkeeping for marine hobbyists with the right tank size. Helps educate aquarists about pufferfish behavior and anatomy.

Included Resources
Needs a tank over 100 gallons, soft sandy substrate, and no sharp décor. Heavy-duty filtration and protein skimming required. Prefers moderate flow and secure rock structures for rest.

Best Use Cases
Fish-only systems or predator aquariums without invertebrates. Best in tanks with large, non-aggressive species. Not reef-safe. Do not house with small ornamental fish or shrimp.

Conservation Context
Not under threat but collected primarily from the wild. Encouraging captive holding and long-term care helps reduce pressure on native populations in shallow ecosystems.

Ideal Aquatic Animals
• Large angelfish
• Tangs and butterflyfish
• Triggerfish (non-aggressive)
• Filefish
• Other large puffers (with caution)

Region (A)
• Latitude: 25.7617° N
• Longitude: -80.1918° W
(Coastal Florida – Biscayne Bay area)

Region (B)
• Latitude: 12.0526° N
• Longitude: -61.7486° W
(Grenada – Southern Caribbean Sea)