Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby

The Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby is a small, endearing pufferfish endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll, making it one of the more geographically restricted species in the marine aquarium trade. Its compact body is a rich dark brown to chocolate color densely covered with small white spots that give it a polka-dotted appearance. The belly is lighter in color, and the caudal fin displays a yellow-orange hue. Its large, alert eyes and small pursed mouth give it an expression of perpetual curiosity.

In the wild, the Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby is one of the most abundant fish on Hawaiian reefs, found in virtually every reef habitat from shallow tide pools to deeper reef slopes. It is a bold, territorial species that actively patrols a small home range, picking at algae, sponges, tunicates, and small invertebrates. Males maintain harems of females within their territories and can be observed actively defending their domain from rival males.

In the aquarium, this toby is hardy, active, and full of personality. It quickly learns to recognize its keeper and will beg for food at the front glass. However, like all Canthigaster species, it may nip at coral polyps, clam mantles, tube worms, and the fins of slow-moving tankmates. This makes it a cautious choice for reef aquariums. Its small size makes it suitable for moderately sized systems, and it is generally easy to feed and maintain. Only one should be kept per tank unless the system is large enough to support a male-female pair.