The way to distinguish male and female zebra dog-headed puffer fish is to observe their bellies during the breeding season. If the belly is rounder, then this zebra dog-headed puffer fish is likely to be a female fish; if the belly is slimmer, then it is likely to be a male fish. In addition, in adult zebra dog-headed puffer fish, the body length of females is usually slightly smaller than that of males, and the pectoral and pelvic fins of females are relatively shorter, wider, and flatter in shape, while the pectoral and pelvic fins of males are longer.

There is also a zebra pufferfish that has a more ferocious temperament and is more aggressive than a crown puffer fish. It is mixed with medium and large fish. The chance of success is even lower than with the Crowned Doghead, and they will most likely injure or kill other fish mixed with them. Moreover, zebra dogheads are fish that are easy to jump out of the tank, so the fish tank must be equipped with a tank cover.