Chilomycterus schoepfii

Striped Burrfish

saltwater

Bioload 0.5

Advanced care

Diodontidae

Your complete care profile

Striped Burrfish (Chilomycterus schoepfii) is a saltwater fish associated with Western Atlantic, with a recorded adult length of up to 27.9 cm. This source-backed catalogue profile brings its essential aquarium planning information together on one page.

Temperature

24–27°C

pH range

8.1–8.4

Minimum tank

400 litres

Typical lifespan

10 years

Diet

Carnivore

Origin

Western Atlantic

Adult size

Up to 27.9 cm

Care level

Advanced

Care level recorded in the source-backed catalogue profile.

Aquarium context

saltwater system

Present in the aquarium trade

Planning to add Striped Burrfish?

Check it against your aquarium before purchase, then use the complete preparation checklist below.

Check compatibility

Species identity

Know the fish

Common name

Striped Burrfish

Scientific name

Chilomycterus schoepfii

Family

Diodontidae

Family group

Porcupinefishes (burrfishes)

Water type

saltwater

Native range

Western Atlantic

Social planning

Individual assessment

Conservation

Least concern (LC)

Aquarium setup

Build the right system

A mature marine aquarium with stable salinity, strong gas exchange and no detectable ammonia or nitrite. Measure salinity rather than estimating it.

Use 400 litres as the minimum planning baseline before allowing extra space for a group, tank mates, decor and swimming behaviour.

Hold temperature at 24–27°C and pH at 8.1–8.4; stability matters more than chasing a single number.

Design the aquarium around the recorded adult length of 27.9 cm, not the juvenile size seen at purchase.

Provide retreat areas and visual breaks while preserving enough unobstructed space for normal movement and feeding.

Filtration & waste

Moderate waste load (0.5 index): allow spare biological capacity and service mechanical media before flow is restricted.

Feeding

Carnivore diet

Offer varied, appropriately sized animal-based foods. Confirm that the fish is eating and avoid relying on a single food long term.

Observe

Confirm every fish reaches food and swallows it.

Control

Stop before leftovers can decay in the aquarium.

Review

Track body condition, waste and feeding response over time.

Behaviour & tank mates

Community planning

Treat temperament as an individual assessment. Observe feeding and territorial behaviour, and keep a safe separation plan available.

No simple community match is approved in this profile. Plan species-only housing or obtain a specialist compatibility assessment before adding tank mates.

No pre-approved tank mate is listed. That is a safety signal, not a claim that every pairing will fail.

Health watch

Recognise warning signs early

These are risks to monitor, not diagnoses. Test the aquarium first and seek an aquatic vet or experienced specialist for severe, fast-moving or uncertain symptoms.

Marine ich

Watch for: White spots, scratching, rapid breathing, hiding or reduced appetite.

First response: Confirm in a quarantine setting and seek a marine-safe treatment plan; do not medicate a display reef blindly.

Environmental stress

Watch for: Hiding, faded colour, clamped fins, glass surfing, rapid breathing or appetite loss.

First response: Test water, review temperature and tank mates, reduce disturbance and correct problems gradually.

Before bringing one home

Five-point readiness check

The established aquarium is at least 400 litres and matches the required saltwater system.

Temperature and pH overlap the full 24–27°C and 8.1–8.4 ranges.

A suitable carnivore food is available and the seller can demonstrate that the fish is feeding.

Ammonia and nitrite test at zero, acclimation is planned and a quarantine or observation option is ready.

Every proposed tank mate has been screened for adult size, behaviour, feeding competition and water compatibility.

Run compatibility check

Data & source notes

Transparent, in-app data

IUCN LC

Catalogue source

FishBase · release 26.07

Species record

FishBase SpecCode 6407

Aquarium context

Present in the aquarium trade

Temperature basis

FishSnap tropical-marine planning baseline

pH basis

FishSnap marine planning baseline

Tank basis

FishSnap conservative planning baseline derived from adult size, water type, social ecology and family

Lifespan basis

FishSnap size/family planning estimate

Photo credit

Tom Kennedy · CC BY

FishBase remains an editorial reference, but the useful species and care information is interpreted here so you do not have to leave FishSnap. Conservative planning baselines are labelled as guidance, not guarantees.