I have long been fascinated by pufferfish, so I’ve decided to finally write a post about them. I chose to profile the Hawaiian Blue Pufferfish in particular for a very important reason. I think it’s pretty (and yes, that is important!). I originally heard about pufferfish when reading an article about “fugu” and let me tell you, the reviews were less than complimentary. But let’s focus on the good first, shall we?
The Hawaiian Blue Pufferfish is extremely easy to take care of in a salt water aquarium, provided it isn’t a reef tank and you have no other pufferfish in residence. These fish are extremely adaptable and will no doubt acclimate to a tank environment quickly. Most people choose to purchase pufferfish because at some point they wish to see them puff up. The fish do this only when they feel threatened, so forcing the reaction usually isn’t a good idea (it puts the fish under a great deal of stress). The puffers gulp large amounts of water, expanding their stomachs, which in turn frightens off potential attackers.
The Hawaiian Blue Pufferfish gets it’s name from the distinctive markings along the body. The fish has a reddish brown base with many multicolored spots covering the body. This fish also has a false eye on the bottom part of the dorsal fin, another ploy to deter attackers. So besides being interesting to watch, pufferfish bring undeniable beauty to a tank as well.
As mentioned earlier, pufferfish aren’t always the pretty ornaments that we make them out to be. Pufferfish are actually quite poisonous, even much more so than cyanide. Because everywhere in the world has thrill seekers, Japan has become the pioneer in actually cooking pufferfish and serving them. This is called “fugu.” However, dozens of people die each year from eating improperly prepared pufferfish, so consuming this exotic treat is done at your own risk!