Little Shop of Coral
Peacock Puffer (Canthigaster margaritatus)
Peacock Puffer (Canthigaster margaritatus)
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The Peacock Puffer is a small, bold, and incredibly interactive fish with a gorgeous spotted pattern and bright “peacock” coloration that stands out in any marine tank. As a sharp-eyed micro-predator, it spends the day cruising rockwork and sand looking for small meaty foods. This species is full of personality and makes an awesome centerpiece for smaller fish-only systems or carefully planned reef setups where invertebrates are not the main focus.
Why we love it
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Stunning peacock patterning with tons of character
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Very interactive and always aware of what is happening outside the tank
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Stays relatively small compared to many puffers
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Great centerpiece fish for smaller marine systems
Care & Compatibility
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Safe: With caution
Diet: Carnivore
Adult Size: ~4 to 5"
Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons recommended
Feeding
Peacock Puffers do best with a meaty diet and regular variety.
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Frozen mysis, brine shrimp, krill
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Chopped seafood like shrimp, clam, squid
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High-quality carnivore pellets once established
Offering occasional hard foods can help support natural tooth wear.
Tank & Setup Notes
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Provide rockwork and caves for exploring and resting
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Stable parameters and strong filtration are important since puffers can be messy eaters
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Moderate flow with calm areas is ideal
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Keep a secure lid, especially in tanks with jump-prone tank mates
Compatibility Tips
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Best with confident, non-fin-nipping fish
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Can nip fins of slow or long-finned species in smaller tanks
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Not safe with most ornamental invertebrates. Snails, crabs, and shrimp are often viewed as food
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Use caution in reef tanks. Some individuals ignore corals, but many will pick at inverts and can disturb the cleanup crew
Acclimation & Health
Slow acclimation is recommended. This species generally adapts well once feeding, but it is important to ensure it is eating confidently in the first week and not being harassed by aggressive tank mates.
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LIGHT
LOW: Place coral at the bottom of the tank. Depending on the type, coral may need to be placed off sand and therefore mounted on a ceramic disc of piece of rock.
MEDIUM: Place coral at mid-range of the tank. Best placed/glued on top of a rock scape at mid-range height.
HIGH: Place coral from mid range to just below water level. SPS coral are shallow growing so they require and are able to tolerate intense light.
FLOW
LOW: Most soft coral do well with a small, gentle pulse. There are certain corals that can even be placed in areas of indirect flow, meaning places aside a rock structure or set into a entrance to a cave style space.
MEDIUM: Many LPS types of coral prefer medium pulse current. Most Euphyllia or corals that have more tissue structure connected to their skeleton, don’t like to be in a high flow area like the direct flow of the wave pump.
HIGH: Similar to high light, SPS enjoy being in some heavy current. Most LPS and SPS that branch encrust or plate prefer high flow that simulates the top water waves.
SKILL
ENTRY: While some may say beginner level, "Entry" is a good term to be used when starting out in the world of corals and marine life. Prior to adding livestock, you want to ensure that your reef has the proper parameters including zero levels of ammonia and nitrite. Seeing traces of nitrate in your waters is a good sign - just keep them at a lower level of 2ppm to 10ppm. Maintaining correct temperature and salinity are a huge factor to stable parameters. Starting to monitor your PH, alkalinity, calcium and magnesium is a great habit to get into to keep a successful reef.
While some soft coral don’t require too much light, having a proper reef light that puts out the proper pars is very important. You'll also want to have a good amount of flow and protected rock areas, as placing corals in their happy spot is ideal for success.
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