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The puffer fish is a member of the
Tetraodontidae family which represents a family of primarily
estuarine and marine fish. From the puffer fish varieties some
of the most known are the larger black-spotted puffer, the
yellow-spotted burr fish and the small masked globefish. This
fish is famous for his unique puffer ability. When he gets
scarred the puffer fish puffs up to 2 or even 3 times his normal
size. An interesting show to watch, but also a very dangerous
move for the fish who becomes stressed. So, to make the fish to
buffer is not a recommended thing to do. It is also recommended
for the puffer fish keepers to transfer the fish in the water
and not out of it, because if the fish puffers up with air, is
not at all a good thing for him. Some fish that is called
normally the puffer fish have in fact other names. For example,
the yellow fish that has long spines sticking out when the fish
inflates is called the porcupine fish. The small fish with his
spines that are always stuck out is the burr fish. The spines
are not an obligatory thing for the puffer fish: the figure
eight puffer, the dog faced puffer and the stars and stripes
puffer are fish without any spines. One main characteristic of
the puffer fish is that he has tetrodotoxin in his body, being
the world`s second most poisonous creature, after the Golden
Poison Frog. The tetrodotoxin is a type of poison which if is
ingested in an enough quantity may cause paralyses and, in the
worst cases, even death may occur. Fortunately, the puffer fish
is not a violent fish, attacking only when he is in self-defence,
so the keepers have nothing to worry about. |
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