The Puffer Forum

I read on a website that they can "puff up to twice their size if threatened".

I know the GSP will almost always die if they ever puff up, but on the other hand, the porcupine puffer can do it all day long.

So I was wondering if the F8 really can puff up or if it's likely to kill itself doing it.

I was under the impression that they can all puff as much as they want to as long as they're in water......

if they died because of puffing that would defeat the purpose of a self-defense mechanism..

They are not bees, were they die because they sting (defense mechanism)..to be martyrs for their colony.

IDK...I have never heard they die from puffing---unless they puff with air??????????????

I read a couple places that a GSP will do that to avoid being eaten, because in fish logic, it's better to puff up and possibly die than to be eaten.

ok well sir you are very misinformed No puffer will die just from puffing up some puffers will even half/puff up for like practice..... the only time a puffer will die from puffing is if they puff up with air because they cannot burp/fart and release the air so they suffacate or so to speak.

sao870 wrote:ok well sir you are very misinformed No puffer will die just from puffing up some puffers will even half/puff up for like practice..... the only time a puffer will die from puffing is if they puff up with air because they cannot burp/fart and release the air so they suffacate or so to speak.

"If your puffer does become inflated with air, there is a method of helping it release it. Which needs steady but gentle hands. You will have to hold you puffer with your hands, with it's head facing up, then begin to gently massage the belly of the fish upwards to it's chin. This will help the valves release and the air to escape from the upward facing puffer's mouth."

Under disease and health concerns
http://www.reefnut.com/Puffer%20Article.htm

it is difficult to know if it is air trapped or just a natural reaction. This board has lost a few puffers over the last little while because of air trapped in them. Getting it out is far more difficult than it sounds.

Ajepalmer, we also have an article on "burping" puffers in our library's Hospital section.

Joe, these folks are indeed right. Filling with water is a self-defense mechanism employed by all puffers to preserve life, not to end it. Puffing with air is a totally different matter; for this reason, we strive NEVER to expose our puffers to air.

I dont know if I am right,

but if a puffer would be inflated with air, it would swim with difficulty and would stay at the top of a tank

When a puffer is puffed with air it'll have almost no control of where its going, and if it swallowed enough,w ill float to the top.

i never had one die because of puffing. i did have one get wedged in some rock in the tank and couldnt back himself out and everytime i tried pulling him out myself he would puff up and get himself even more stuck. eventually i just had to pull him out before he had a chance to puff but he was fine. he never got too close to the rocks after that though

Just wanted to toss in my two cents!

I saw a video (a National Georgraphic) where there was a beaver or something that was hunting a puffer. As he snagged it out of the water, it was filled with air. He floated on top, kind of like a balloon - until it's predator went away. He deflated and swam off.

I am in no way saying it is harmless to puff with air, I know it's very dangerous. Just had to toss it in there though, since Lil' Swimz$ said something about them floating.

An otter, I think. It was a neat video. The puffer kicked butt. The otter couldn't get its teeth into the puffer's belly.

Oh you saw it too! Yeah, it was an Otter I was like YESS! GOOOO PUFFER!