Canthigaster epilampra

(Jenkins, 1903)

Lantern Toby

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Christmas Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Hawaiian and Society Islands, also north to Southern Japan, and south to Tonga and Rarotonga.

Size: 5 inches (12 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits outer reef slopes and usually found at depths between 20 to 200 feet (6 - 60 m) where it feeds mainly on benthic invertebrate and algae.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade, with a white body with its back somewhat dark tan with blue lines and dots, and yellow around the eyes, and on the tail. Lacks pelvic fins, but uses the pectoral fins for movement.

Best maintained in fish-only aquariums with live rock caves and crevices for browsing, and also wide-open swimming areas with peaceful, swift moving tankmates, such as damselfish.

Should not be housed with aggressive tankmates such as groupers, dottybacks, triggerfishes or angelfishes, as this is a somewhat slow moving species.

Requires a varied diet, i.e., finely chopped fish or shrimp flesh, krill, clams, squid, earthworms and/or carnivore frozen foods, along with some vegetable matter. Should have numerous/at least three daily feedings.

Taxonomy:

Order: Tetraodontiformes

Suborder: Tetraodontoidei

Family: Tetraodontidae

Subfamily: Canthigastrinae

Genus: Canthigaster

FYI: Will eat small ornamental shrimp, crabs, snails, and tubeworms.

Will nip stony corals.

May nip the fins of slow moving tankmates.

One per aquarium unless a mated pair.

Will consume filamentous algae.

May need to be dewormed and have its teeth filed to prevent overgrowth.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Omnivore

Coral Safe: No

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: No

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful, and swifter

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 - 27°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 - 1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5