The Puffer Forum

As I mentioned under the puffer pic section in a reply, mine and puffer_puff's aquatic friend, Moog, makes a very odd face every now and then at arbitrary times. The baileyi stretches its mouth forward ressembling an exaggerated "Moooooooo" (hence its given name). It does this for a brief second, and then resumes whatever its doing (usually loafing in a cave).

Anybody know if T. Baileyis, or any other puffer for that matter, have been know to do this? Or is this just a really wierd fish?

Several puffs make similar strange faces - it is realy wierd when a big puffer does this. I have no real data, but have wondered if it was a way to hold more water in their mouth and quickly force it out through their gills. Puffers have soft flexible opercula (gill covers), unlike most fish with rigid ones. It may be more difficult for puffers, or just require a different technique from other fish, to clear their gills. Sort of their version of a cough ot snort or sneeze. Water breathers do this sort of thing just as air breathers do. That is all supposiyion on my part, so I may be off-base on my reasoning, but it is real and you can expect to se some similar move if you watch your puff a lot.

My GSP used to do this too. Like RTR, I figured it was a puffer yawn or something since he never seemed bothered. In fact it was exactly like a human yawn in that he'd just do it at random intervals, sort of smack his lips thoughtfully, then get on with cruising the tank.

I actually got a picture of the Fahaka at the Shedd doing this very thing. He first wrinkled up his nose exposing his teeth, then sort of let out a big sneeze. At least that's what it looked like. They do make some funny facial expressions.

Both my baileyis and my palembang do that. Freaked out my husband first time he saw it. "What the hell was that??"

Flutter pulls his lips back and shows off his teeth whenever he gets food stuck in them.

Well that makes me feel easy, thanks. Puffers are so amusing.

Myaj wrote:I actually got a picture of the Fahaka at the Shedd doing this very thing.

KugelKat and I didn't get to go to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago because Moog (our T. baileyi) was already boxed up in the car, and we had to drive it all the way home from Chicago to Toronto. We opted not to have the fish sit in a bag in a box in the car (or even at the hotel). But we really wanted to go to that aquarium!

I've seen my fahaka and Palembang puffer do this yawning-type behaviour once each, but never to the exent or for the duration that Moog does it.

You really have to get there, I've been to many aquariums and this one was so much better than any other. I was there for something like 4 or 5 hours and didn't have time to see the entire thing!

Here's the fahaka, I know its blurry but it surprised me and I'm happy I managed to even get this shot!