Top 6 Puffer Fish Facts Worth Knowing

1. Ability to Expand also referred to as "Puff"

When the puffer fish runs into trouble with predators, it has the ability to fill it's stomach with water or air to scare them away. One second the puffer fish looks like a tasty meal and the next second your watching it blow up like a balloon. Seeing that sight is most likely going to deter anything from touching it.

2. Some Puffer Fish Have Spikes too!

If blowing up like a balloon isn't enough to scare away predators... lets add some sharp spikes to the mix. So when the fish blows up the spikes are even more radiant then ever as a defense mechanism. This is quite a sight to see in person and I dare you to touch it! I'm thinking that predators are just going to pass on trying eat the puffer fish.

3. There are Even Freshwater Puffer Fish

Many people are unaware of the freshwater species of puffer. It is commonly known as the "giant puffer." Even though its called the giant, it only grows a little bit over 2 feet long. Freshwater species are most commonly found in African water lands. There are over 100 species if puffer and they even cross between water types. Marine and freshwater... Very impressive!

4. How Powerful Is The Poison?

The poison from a puffer fish is the second most harmful poison in the world. There are crazy facts out there stating that its "x" so many more times powerful then other harmful poisons. The power to kill 100 men and other scary facts. Gives me the goosebumps just thinking about. Just makes me wonder how such a small and unique fish has such a powerful defense.

5. Puffer Fish are Omnivorous

The puffer feeds on both groups of food. Some specific species of the puffers will feed more on one type of food than others. The algae that grows on coral is a tasty meal for some while other species prefer crustaceans, crabs, and shellfish.

6. Puffer Fish Meat is a Delicacy in Japan

Japan is the leading seafood capital in the world and they love eating the puffer fish. Not all puffer species are poisonous but even with the poisons, it is still possible to eat around that. Some of these feedings are very religious and a delicacy to cultures. Things we would never think of like.. a meal prior to a lethal surgery or a health related illness that this meat will only cure. Here in America, we don't tend to believe in some of these rituals but they are truly a worldwide perspective.

Share Your Thoughts:

Randy Tuirk posted:
Our family actually had the opportunity to go snorkeling in Florida and we saw a couple of puffer fish. We also visited sea world and its my 5 year old boys favorite fish. My daughter doesn't like it but its my boys favorite. I must admit that seeing the fish live in the natural habitat of ocean is scary. It's easy to read about and think to yourself "oh wow that fish is pretty wicked and scary" but when you see it in real life it's totally threatening scary.
http://botany.si.edu/projects/algae/

Alyssa Weber replies:
The idea of seeing one in person really does change the story a bit haha. I'm doing a research project for my biology class in the puffer. I've learned about its strong potential to deter other predators but the fish itself really doesn't do anything special. Think of how many other fish do more things that aren't fortunate to have defense systems like the puffer. Not sure if any of it makes sense. What about all the small fish that have nothing but swim thousands of miles a year to breed..

Randy Tuirk replies:
I get what your saying but its not really in our hands to figure out why Mother Nature gave each species every trait they have. Everything that is created happened for a reason to even out the natural habitat of the animal kingdom. At least that's what I think. If you get too far into thinkin about that stuff it will really bug you out.