to protect them from predatirs

The life span of a puffer fish is about 20 - 30 years.

Tetraodontidae is a family of marine fish with an unusual defense mechanism of drastic self-inflation when threatened, which has earned them the common name "Pufferfish." There are about 25 Gena of the family.

large gulls.skuas.

Female guppies are much larger and less colourfull. They also have a triangular anal fin. The male is a slim very colourfull fish and has a pointed anal fin which is called a "gonopodium" and this fin does a similar job to a mammals penis.

Male seahorses become pregnant, not the female. Seahorses mate for life and after the male gives birth, he stores the young in a pouch on his underside. Mating takes place in the male's pouch.

The Puffer fish is also known as the blowfish, fugu, swellfish, and globefish. It is called the puffer fish because when it is threatened, it puffs up to about twice its normal size by gulping water. In this engorged state, the pufferfish can swim at only about half its normal speed.There are about 100 species of pufferfish. Most pufferfish are found in sub-tropical and tropical marine waters (including coral reefs) in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Some puffers live in brackish and fresh water. Poison: Many parts of the blowfish (including the liver, muscles, skin, and ovaries) contain an extremely strong, paralyzing poison called tetrodoxin. This poison is about a thousand times deadlier than cyanide. There is no known antidote for this poison. Fugu (torafugu or fugu rubripes, Japanese pufferfish) is eaten in Japan, but is only cooked by specially-trained chefs who can minimize the amount of poison. Even so, many Japanese diners have died from eating this poisonous delicacy. Diet: Pufferfish are carnivores (meat-eaters). They eat corals, sponges, sea urchins, other echinoderms, and small crustaceans. Pufferfish crush and grind up their prey with their heavy, fused teeth. Anatomy: Pufferfish have a small mouth, a tube-shaped body (when not engorged) and relatively small fins. When puffed up, they are almost spherical. Pufferfish range in size from just a few inches long to almost 2 feet long. A few species of pufferfish have spines on their body (modified scales), but many do not. The skin of puffers is very elastic (it can stretch very well). Biologists think pufferfish, also known as blowfish, developed their famous "inflatability" because their slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style makes them vulnerable to predators. In lieu of escape, pufferfish use their highly elastic stomachs and the ability to quickly ingest huge amounts of water (and even air when necessary) to turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball several times their normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less palatable. A predator that manages to snag a puffer before it inflates won't feel lucky for long. Almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote. Type: Fish Diet: Carnivore Size: Up to 3 ft (1 m) Group name: School Did you know? Some predators, such as tiger sharks and sea snakes, are unbothered by the pufferfish's natural toxins. Size relative to a tea cup: The Puffer fish is also known as the blowfish, fugu, swellfish, and globefish. It is called the puffer fish because when it is threatened, it puffs up to about twice its normal size by gulping water. In this engorged state, the pufferfish can swim at only about half its normal speed.There are about 100 species of pufferfish. Most pufferfish are found in sub-tropical and tropical marine waters (including coral reefs) in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Some puffers live in brackish and fresh water. Poison: Many parts of the blowfish (including the liver, muscles, skin, and ovaries) contain an extremely strong, paralyzing poison called tetrodoxin. This poison is about a thousand times deadlier than cyanide. There is no known antidote for this poison. Fugu (torafugu or fugu rubripes, Japanese pufferfish) is eaten in Japan, but is only cooked by specially-trained chefs who can minimize the amount of poison. Even so, many Japanese diners have died from eating this poisonous delicacy. Diet: Pufferfish are carnivores (meat-eaters). They eat corals, sponges, sea urchins, other echinoderms, and small crustaceans. Pufferfish crush and grind up their prey with their heavy, fused teeth. Anatomy: Pufferfish have a small mouth, a tube-shaped body (when not engorged) and relatively small fins. When puffed up, they are almost spherical. Pufferfish range in size from just a few inches long to almost 2 feet long. A few species of pufferfish have spines on their body (modified scales), but many do not. The skin of puffers is very elastic (it can stretch very well). Biologists think pufferfish, also known as blowfish, developed their famous "inflatability" because their slow, somewhat clumsy swimming style makes them vulnerable to predators. In lieu of escape, pufferfish use their highly elastic stomachs and the ability to quickly ingest huge amounts of water (and even air when necessary) to turn themselves into a virtually inedible ball several times their normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to make them even less palatable. A predator that manages to snag a puffer before it inflates won't feel lucky for long. Almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote. Type: Fish Diet: Carnivore Size: Up to 3 ft (1 m) Group name: School Did you know? Some predators, such as tiger sharks and sea snakes, are unbothered by the pufferfish's natural toxins. Size relative to a tea cup:

they live alone.

While the spines are there for defense and are thus painful, they aren't the poisonous part of the fish. Tetrodotoxin is the active ingredient, stored in the eyes (?), liver and reproductive organs, and tetrodotoxin is deadly to humans. However, I have no evidence whatsoefver (including examining Fugu puffers myself) that the spines serve as injectors. As such, I'd treat them as an other marine spining: Antiseptic the wound. For this I like hydrogen peroxide -- it foams when it hits blood, so I can get an idea of how deep the wound is. If it's bleeding, I'd encourage the this by expressing blood fromthe wound. Once it stops bleeding, switch to wrapping with as hot a compress as you can stand without burning yourself for 10-20 minutes, refreshing the hot dressings when they cool off. AFter this, more antiseptic and coldpack it, 10 minutes on, 10 off for half an hour. If, at any time, the patient has touble breathing, roll for an ER instantly. The appearance of a rash, weals or welts, or other allergic reaction sign means a trip to the doctor as well. The wound should be signoficantly better in 6-10 hours. If it's getting work (hotter, darker color, lines of color spreading outwards from the wound), head for an ER. Most of the time, home treatment works juust great with these.

they frequently make noises that sound like donkeys.

Humans can eat pufferfish, but not all of it. Fugu, what we know as pufferfish, is a delicacy in Japan. Lisenced resturants that serve pufferfish also specialize in the removal of the fish's deadly poison. If left unremoved the fish could be the last meal for up to thirty adults.

Mbu pufferfish was created in 1899.

They prefer to stay near the bottom of the ocean

Yes. Pufferfish do not really swim all that fast, they do not rely on speed to avoid enemies. They have spines that help them with this, also they puff up (hense the name) as if to look bigger to ward off enemies. so, sharks are generally faster than pufferfish.

It depends on what other fish you have in the tank. Some puffers are aggressive and will not tolerate other fish. Puffers can also be very destructive and like to bite off pieces of your coral or decorations. They have to trim their teeth that way. They do make wonderful pets mainly because they have little fear of humans and make eye contact that melts your heart. I would research the exact species of puffer you want. Learn as much as you can about it. If you have time and want to read a great book, get "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist".

Puffer fish swim like any other fish, by using their fins and streamlined body for movement and gills for breathing. The puffer fish only bloats up its body when it is threatened making it difficult to swim but its not like that all the time, in fact the puffer fish is a very good swimmer.

yes if the snowflake eel has a large rock for a shelter

Mainly a predator, except to the tiger shark. Then It would be prey

One interesting Puffer fish fact is that they can puff up to several times their original size. They do this by ingesting water. Another interesting fact is that Puffer fish are poor swimmers.

Yes, like most fish the pufferfish does lay eggs. It can be anywhere from 2-5 or in some cases, up to 10 eggs. For more information go to http://pufferfish.ausum.net

A few ounces when it is fully matured, while the other puffer fish weigh a few pounds.