The Puffer Forum

I have often wondered what the little dots that look like seems on a puffer are for. Is this where they stretch when puffed or do they perform another sensory function? Also on occasion my puffer displays a perfect black spot right at the base of his tail, any idea what this is (MBU puffer)

I think the little dots you are refering to are the spines.

I'm not sure they are you know, they look like little pits that are joined in a line all on his underside, do Mbu's have spines all over my boy feels pretty smooth to me?

These little black dots here are what am referring to

Oh ok, the white dots are the spines I beleive. If you look at a picture of a puffer puffed, they have many spines that stick out all over. But I have no idea what those black ones are.

yeah when Clooney puffs which I have only witnessed twice when he got quite grumpy becuase he couldn't pass a rather large piece o shell there wher no visible spines at all. I thought they had spikes too, maybe he does but just very small?

Sometimes they are totally "inside" the fat layer under the puffers skin. DP's have spines, but they don't really ever stick out that I have ever seen. BTW, your puffer is so cute I want to hug him.

Yeah your not the first to say it thanks, not too sure he would apprecite it though, he does allow me to manhandle him when I am cleaning the tank out and he's in the way I have to persuade him gently and shove him up the other end