Puffer_freak
Put the trombone down, *****!
Hi, as some of you will know, I asked a while ago about where puffers come from, this was for a small factsheet I was doing. I finished it ages ago, but I never thought to post it, so I have decided to.
Puffer fish: Tetradonidae
The puffer fish family comprises of some 150 different species. The latin (scientific) name for the genus is Tetradonidae and refers to the toxin, which most puffers produce. This toxin is known to be one of the most potent in the animal kingdom, and goes by the name of tetrodotoxin, although it is also know as tarichatonoxin or tetragorin. They often advertise this fact in their bright colouration. See the picture to see one variation of the colours displayed. Other common names include “blow fish” and “globe fish”.
As their common name suggest, the puffer fish can “puff up”. They do this by inflating themselves with air or water. However, puffing with air is not good for them at all, as puffers do not naturally go outside of the water. If they do puff with air, the air can get stuck inside them, leading to severe problems. If in an aquarium, they will need to be burped. You can do this by holding them upside down underneath the water, and running a gloved hand along their belly, towards their mouth. This will probably get the water out of their body. This is a natural defence mechanism that they use to deter predators. When they inflate, they are approximately 3 times their normal size. This means that not only are they highly poisonous, but they are also too big to be possibly swallowed by most predators. Add to this the fact that all puffers have spikes, and they have an excellent defence mechanism. They should not be forced to do this; however, as they will only do this if they get severely stressed and are provoked, it is possible to die from the stress.
Here is the Porcupine Puffer, it is the most commonly known puffer, and has the longest spines, hence it’s name.
Puffer fish can be found all over the world. Primary countries are Borneo, Thailand, Portugal, in fact, they are found mainly in the Asian area. A certain type, may also be found in the Pacific Ocean around Japan, where they are eaten as a delicacy. These puffers provide an apparently delicious food, yet you must have a special licence to be able to cook it. As the all the poisonous bits must be taken out, or the unlucky diner will fall usually fatally ill. As you can see, puffers are a very widespread species, that reside mainly around Asia yet can be found from Egypt through to South America. They are even found as far as Australia, where they are often found in the Great Barrier Reef. The anatomy of the puffer is the same in all species, making it quite an easy species to identify.
They all have a club like body, making them appear clumsy, but when observed, they will show great speed once scared. Most fish use their Caudal Fin to swim, but puffers use their pectoral fins to move about, using their tail as more of a rudder, steering their way through the water. They all have two teeth at the front of their mouth, which are fused to be form a “beak”. These are sharp and can grow large, especially in the species Collemesus Assellus (South American Puffer), which grow particularly quickly. When kept in a home aquarium, these may need to be “clipped” at times in the puffers’ life. Larger species have larger teeth, and Tetradon Mbu (Giant Puffer) is thought to be the largest of all freshwater puffers, and I have experienced myself, the size of the teeth on a large specimen! They are at least 2cm in length, and are capable of removing an adult human finger. Most puffers are highly aggressive, the Tetradon Lineatus (Fahaka/Nile Puffer) is so aggressive that an experienced and respected marine biologist once commented “I have no idea how these get close enough to each other to breed!”. If kept as an aquarium fish, freshwater and brackish puffers, as a rule, should only be kept with members of their own species, if at all. When they approach adulthood, their aggressive nature may mean they become a solitary fish in the tank.
Many people believe that puffer fish can only be found in the ocean or saltwater. This is not true. There is many
species that are either freshwater or brackish (salty, but not salty enough to be called saltwater).
Here I am going to do some profiles of some types of puffer fish. I will do one from each of the four environments, freshwater, brackish and saltwater.
The Saltwater Species:
Name: Porcupine Puffer
Latin Name: Diodon nicthemerus
Natural Habitat: Indo Pacific
Identifying Characteristics: Long spines running all the way along body; can be found in various colour morphs such as gold, grey and blue; dark eyes.
Diet: Carnivorous
Maximum Size in Captivity: Up to 3 feet 11 inches.
The Brackish Species:
Name: Green Spotted Puffer
Latin Name: Tetradon nigroviridis
Natural Habitat: Found in Borneo, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Asia.
Identifying Characteristics: Large colour range from yellow through to green; golden eyes with black pupil, eyes may be a turquoise colour, however; white stomach; transparent fins; black spots.
Diet: Omnivorous, though is most likely to take meaty foods.
Maximum Size in Captivity: 6 ¾ inches.
Own Comments: I keep this fish, they have a striking temperament and will generally not stand company. They prefer meaty foods, such as bloodworm, daphnia, shrimp, mussels etc. I have had little success with vegetable foods. Tend to destroy plants.
The Freshwater Species:
Name: Fahaka Puffer
Latin Name: Tetradon Lineatus
Natural Habitat: Nile, Egypt, Africa.
Identifying Characteristics: The upper half is covered in a stripe pattern; eyes are much like those of a Tetradon Nigroviridis; extremely aggressive; grow fast; fins are yellow; small dermal spines.
Diet: Carnivorous
Maximum Size in Captivity: 18 inches.
Note: please feel free to point out mistakes or comments, and forget the pictures, they were on there on the word document but they aren't loaded onto my photobucket account, so I'll just add them in later. Thanks, Puffer.
EDIT: I'm aware that there is already plenty of facts about them wandering around and in pinned topics, but I just wanted to see what you all thought of mine.
Puffer fish: Tetradonidae
The puffer fish family comprises of some 150 different species. The latin (scientific) name for the genus is Tetradonidae and refers to the toxin, which most puffers produce. This toxin is known to be one of the most potent in the animal kingdom, and goes by the name of tetrodotoxin, although it is also know as tarichatonoxin or tetragorin. They often advertise this fact in their bright colouration. See the picture to see one variation of the colours displayed. Other common names include “blow fish” and “globe fish”.
As their common name suggest, the puffer fish can “puff up”. They do this by inflating themselves with air or water. However, puffing with air is not good for them at all, as puffers do not naturally go outside of the water. If they do puff with air, the air can get stuck inside them, leading to severe problems. If in an aquarium, they will need to be burped. You can do this by holding them upside down underneath the water, and running a gloved hand along their belly, towards their mouth. This will probably get the water out of their body. This is a natural defence mechanism that they use to deter predators. When they inflate, they are approximately 3 times their normal size. This means that not only are they highly poisonous, but they are also too big to be possibly swallowed by most predators. Add to this the fact that all puffers have spikes, and they have an excellent defence mechanism. They should not be forced to do this; however, as they will only do this if they get severely stressed and are provoked, it is possible to die from the stress.
Here is the Porcupine Puffer, it is the most commonly known puffer, and has the longest spines, hence it’s name.
Puffer fish can be found all over the world. Primary countries are Borneo, Thailand, Portugal, in fact, they are found mainly in the Asian area. A certain type, may also be found in the Pacific Ocean around Japan, where they are eaten as a delicacy. These puffers provide an apparently delicious food, yet you must have a special licence to be able to cook it. As the all the poisonous bits must be taken out, or the unlucky diner will fall usually fatally ill. As you can see, puffers are a very widespread species, that reside mainly around Asia yet can be found from Egypt through to South America. They are even found as far as Australia, where they are often found in the Great Barrier Reef. The anatomy of the puffer is the same in all species, making it quite an easy species to identify.
They all have a club like body, making them appear clumsy, but when observed, they will show great speed once scared. Most fish use their Caudal Fin to swim, but puffers use their pectoral fins to move about, using their tail as more of a rudder, steering their way through the water. They all have two teeth at the front of their mouth, which are fused to be form a “beak”. These are sharp and can grow large, especially in the species Collemesus Assellus (South American Puffer), which grow particularly quickly. When kept in a home aquarium, these may need to be “clipped” at times in the puffers’ life. Larger species have larger teeth, and Tetradon Mbu (Giant Puffer) is thought to be the largest of all freshwater puffers, and I have experienced myself, the size of the teeth on a large specimen! They are at least 2cm in length, and are capable of removing an adult human finger. Most puffers are highly aggressive, the Tetradon Lineatus (Fahaka/Nile Puffer) is so aggressive that an experienced and respected marine biologist once commented “I have no idea how these get close enough to each other to breed!”. If kept as an aquarium fish, freshwater and brackish puffers, as a rule, should only be kept with members of their own species, if at all. When they approach adulthood, their aggressive nature may mean they become a solitary fish in the tank.
Many people believe that puffer fish can only be found in the ocean or saltwater. This is not true. There is many
species that are either freshwater or brackish (salty, but not salty enough to be called saltwater).
Here I am going to do some profiles of some types of puffer fish. I will do one from each of the four environments, freshwater, brackish and saltwater.
The Saltwater Species:
Name: Porcupine Puffer
Latin Name: Diodon nicthemerus
Natural Habitat: Indo Pacific
Identifying Characteristics: Long spines running all the way along body; can be found in various colour morphs such as gold, grey and blue; dark eyes.
Diet: Carnivorous
Maximum Size in Captivity: Up to 3 feet 11 inches.
The Brackish Species:
Name: Green Spotted Puffer
Latin Name: Tetradon nigroviridis
Natural Habitat: Found in Borneo, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Asia.
Identifying Characteristics: Large colour range from yellow through to green; golden eyes with black pupil, eyes may be a turquoise colour, however; white stomach; transparent fins; black spots.
Diet: Omnivorous, though is most likely to take meaty foods.
Maximum Size in Captivity: 6 ¾ inches.
Own Comments: I keep this fish, they have a striking temperament and will generally not stand company. They prefer meaty foods, such as bloodworm, daphnia, shrimp, mussels etc. I have had little success with vegetable foods. Tend to destroy plants.
The Freshwater Species:
Name: Fahaka Puffer
Latin Name: Tetradon Lineatus
Natural Habitat: Nile, Egypt, Africa.
Identifying Characteristics: The upper half is covered in a stripe pattern; eyes are much like those of a Tetradon Nigroviridis; extremely aggressive; grow fast; fins are yellow; small dermal spines.
Diet: Carnivorous
Maximum Size in Captivity: 18 inches.
Note: please feel free to point out mistakes or comments, and forget the pictures, they were on there on the word document but they aren't loaded onto my photobucket account, so I'll just add them in later. Thanks, Puffer.
EDIT: I'm aware that there is already plenty of facts about them wandering around and in pinned topics, but I just wanted to see what you all thought of mine.
