Names:
Scientific: Tetraodon fluviatilis
Common: Green Spotted Puffers
Japanese: Fugu
Locals: Ikan Buntal
Values:
Japan: US 150.00 per fish for special delicacy
USA: US 400.00 per legal meal, prepared by special skilled chef
Locals: Truly a disappointment for anglers who caught them during fishing
Price at Local Fish Shop: Rarely more than RM5.00 per fish
Attitudes:
Puffers are carnivals.
Puffers often nip at the fins of other Puffer and other species of fish.
Puffers are formidable opponents when provoked. They will attack much larger fish, and win.
Puffers will avange itself through its natural poison - tetradotoxin if they were seriously injured or killed.
Emotion:
Puffers are emotional little fish.
Puffers needs places to hide during the day.
When especially happy, Puffers will often get a fluorescent patch on their heads.
When under stress, light to deep gray line appears between the dorsal coloring and the belly.
If problems persist, the white tummy will turn to gray, and deepen to nearly black.
Puffers will learn to recognize their owner, and greet you at the front of the tank expecting food.
Contribution to Sciences:
Puffer a useful tool for studying gene evolution.
Source of Information:
PetFish
Badmans Tropical Fish
MRC