Puffer fish - a complete description of the marine life. Fancy Ball Slave Puffer Fish

Content:

ball fish under stress

One of the interesting and mysterious inhabitants underwater world is a pufferfish. The fish has other names: tetraodon (official name), puffer fish, dog fish. It is also the very famous poisonous Fugu fish, the dish of which is known Japanese kitchen. And also - a fish-ball, which swells with fright and becomes like a ball with eyes and a tail. There are a lot of varieties of pufferfish, only a few of them are poisonous. And some freshwater pufferfish have become widespread in aquariums, thanks to interesting habits and decorative appearance.

Description

The pufferfish has a short body oval shape and small fins. The dorsal fin is single and fan-shaped. All skin is covered with small spikes, there are also varieties with smooth skin. The color is diverse: there may be a fish of a light, brown color, or maybe a bright orange. On the body of many varieties there is a spotted or striped pattern, but there are also monochromatic options.

Pufferfish are distinguished by their teeth combined into jaw plates: as a result, they have two plates in each jaw, which is why the fish is also called the pufferfish. The fish, regardless of variety, has large, bulging eyes with a bright iris. Ball fish can be quite small in size - about 10 cm, and can grow up to almost a meter in length, such as the Mbu pufferfish. In an aquarium, of course, the growth of the fish will hold back the volume of its home.

Individuals of different sexes differ in appearance: females, as a rule, exceed males in size, have a lighter color.

Green puffer

Kinds

Pufferfish are very diverse, there are more than 100 species in total. Most fish are marine, but there are also freshwater fish that are suitable for keeping in aquariums. We will consider the most common types.

• Green Pufferfish (Tetraodon fluviatilis). Representatives of this species can grow up to 10 cm. The fish have a green-yellow color complemented by black spots on the sides. As they grow older, green puffer teeth gradually fade. Compared to other species, this one is the most aggressive, which absolutely excludes the possibility of placing fish in a common aquarium. Water parameters: pH 6.6-7.7 (7.0), 5-14 dH (10), 24-27°C.
• Reddish Pufferfish (Tetraodon miurus). Individuals of this species grow up to 15 cm. The peculiarity of the fish is unusual proportions, the head occupies about a third of the volume of the entire length. The color is reddish, may change to orange under different conditions. When purchasing it, you need to know the features. They concern the content of the fish: the water must be fresh, and the levels of hardness and acidity are high. For food, such puffer fish need shrimp, squid, snails, and certain types of fish. Water parameters: pH 6.9-7.4, 11-15°H, 25-28°C.
• Kutkutya pufferfish (Tetraodon cutcutia). It differs in olive-green color, has a marble pattern, size - up to 10 cm. When kept in an aquarium, it requires a little salted water (a teaspoon of salt per 5 liters), which should be renewed weekly by a quarter. Water parameters: pH 6.0-7.8, 10dH, 23-26°C.

Features of the fish

The pufferfish is distinguished by its ability to inflate own body, turning it into a ball bristling with thorns. When frightened or excited, the fish quickly absorbs water or air into special bags that are located in its abdominal cavity. Because of this, the size of the fish approximately triples. It remains inflated until the stress factor disappears.

Interesting features that pufferfish possess are also observed in the way they feed. The fact is that the fish uses its bags in the abdominal cavity as a water jet apparatus. Due to this, the fish studies the bottom and searches for suitable prey under a layer of sand.

Reddish puffer

Before you buy the fish in question, you should familiarize yourself with the nuances of its content. By nature, the pufferfish is an aggressive predator. Juveniles are quite harmless, but as they grow older, the fish should be kept exclusively in the species aquarium. If this rule is not observed, then an adult puffer fish can easily bite off the fins of any fish living with it.

It is advisable to choose an aquarium of at least 200 liters. The soil is sand, the fish will dig in it, and sharp stones that it can get hurt on should be avoided. For the comfort of the fish, artificial shelters should be added to the aquarium. It is also desirable to have floating plants - rooted pufferfish will immediately dig up due to their way of feeding.

The pufferfish needs stable water parameters. General requirements: the temperature should be more than 23 degrees, but not exceed 29-30 degrees, the recommended pH level is about 7-8, and hardness is from 7 to 12 degrees. From species to species, the parameters vary somewhat, the conditions also depend on the aquarium in which the fish grew. It is desirable that the water be slightly salted, but the degree of salinity depends on the type of fish. Even freshwater pufferfish are sensitive to water quality, as they are descended from marine fish, changes should be done regularly. When starting a puffer, find out from the seller as much as possible about where the fish was brought from, in what conditions it lived before, and try to recreate its familiar environment as much as possible at home.

Pufferfish is a family of fish, in which 29 genera, 200 species of individuals are distinguished. Them distinctive features- the presence of sharp teeth, toxicity, the ability to quickly change the shape of the body. Due to their unique characteristics, pufferfish became known as dogfish, pufferfish, four-toothed (lat. Tetraodontidae). The most famous representatives of the family are Fugu fish, hedgehog, star-shaped pufferfish (Arothron stellatus). The latter is impressive in size and can reach 120 cm in length. As an exotic pet, you can keep small specimens of tetradons: green and reddish pufferfish, kutkutya.

Pufferfish - a real decoration of the aquarium

Habitat and appearance

Outwardly, pufferfish are the sweetest creatures. Beginning aquarists are most attracted to their "smart" eyes with a bright iris. The fish show affection for the owner and, demanding food, can attract attention in every possible way, uttering a cut with their teeth.

The size depends on the species and ranges from 6-110 cm.

The fish's teeth are more like a bird's beak. This helps to get food by splitting hard shells, shells of crustaceans.

The body of the pufferfish is short. The skin can be smooth or in small spike-like growths that are tightly pressed to the body. The fish does not have ventral fins, but it does have pectoral fins. They are well developed and allow swimming in any direction. The tail plays the role of a "rudder" and does not take part in the acceleration of movement.

The stomach of pufferfish has a special structure. It resembles collected accordion furs. When danger arises, the pufferfish captures water or air with its mouth, and the folds of the stomach straighten out, becoming 100 times larger than their usual volume. A quick intake of air is provided by the muscles in the mouth, acting like a pump. Surprisingly, nothing will force a frightened pufferfish to release the contents of its stomach until it senses the disappearance of danger. Even if a person stands with their feet on a large individual, the fish will remain inflated.

Puffer teeth have a special skin structure, caused by the need to turn into a “ball”. It consists of 2 layers. The inner one is more durable, providing elasticity, and the second one is spring, very elastic. In ancient Egypt (27th century BC), pufferfish skin was used to make durable balls.

When a pufferfish senses danger, it inflates like a balloon.

The miracle fish does not have gill covers, ribs, because this prevents it from “swelling up”. Powerful muscles of the peritoneum help to keep the shape.

The differences from other species did not end there. Pufferfish have tiny tentacles under their eyes. They play the role of olfactory organs. The puffer is a real dog-fish with the scent of a bloodhound, only not on land, but on the seabed.

Pufferfish are found in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Africa and near Madagascar, in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of India, Malaysia and Thailand, in the Japan and East China Seas, off the coast of Australia, Papua New Guinea.

Types of pufferfish

Among the pufferfish, freshwater and marine ones are distinguished; small, like the red or green Tetraodon, or large, like the star-shaped pufferfish; peaceful or aggressive.

Those wishing to acquire an exotic fish are recommended to pay attention to the types:

• Tetraodon fluviatilis (green pufferfish). It has a beautiful yellow color with a hint of green, the sides and back are decorated with large black spots. Like all pufferfish, he is thermophilic (lives in water 24-27˚C). The size of an adult is up to 10 cm. The peculiarity of the fish is increased aggressiveness, fading of the skin as they grow older.

In aquariums, green pufferfish are most often bred.

• Tetraodon miurus (reddish pufferfish) - it is red, orange, has dark spots on the skin. This type lives in fresh hard water and grows up to 15 cm.
• Canthigaster valentini (black-striped) - is distinguished by the presence of not only spots, but also several dark stripes on the back, a bright yellow tail. He is moderately aggressive, can get along with other fish that can not give themselves offense. Like other species, it loves warm (up to 27˚С) water.

Starry Pufferfish - Arotron

One of the brightest representatives of the species is the star-shaped pufferfish. The size of the fish is 60 cm, the maximum is 120 cm. The star-shaped pufferfish is yellow, brown, orange and is covered with small needle-like processes. Fish is a godsend for drivers. Arotron is usually hidden from prying eyes at a depth of up to 60 m, so it is not afraid of third-party surveillance and cameras.

Japanese pufferfish - the famous puffer fish

Pufferfish are considered the most poisonous. Another name is "fish-death", since in 60% of cases of poisoning the victim died.

According to gourmets, the taste of a dangerous delicacy cannot be compared with anything. Having tried fugu 1 time, there is an irresistible desire to taste it again and again. The cost of a dish ranges from 500-1000 USD. e. Cutting is entrusted only to licensed chefs. To obtain it, those who wish take special courses, at the end of which they will have an exam: cut fugu and cook sashimi. If a mistake is made, you need to wait 2 years to retake the exam.

Toxicity is a hallmark of fish

Eating puffer fish is life threatening. The most poisonous parts are the liver, skin, fish roe, but this does not mean that the meat does not contain poison. There it is also present, but in smaller doses.

It is very important to cook fugu correctly

When the fish gets inside, the action of a strong nerve paralytic poison begins. First, the victim feels numbness of the limbs, then only the eyes remain mobile and breathing stops.

By sharp teeth and a formidable appearance, it is not difficult to recognize a predator in a pufferfish. So that other inhabitants of the aquarium do not suffer, it is better to put a dividing wall or place the puffer in another tank.

Pufferfish will feel comfortable in an aquarium of impressive size - about 200 liters. At the same time, you need to take care of heating, since the pufferfish melts in water at 23-30˚С.

The quality of the water is important for the pufferfish. Some species live in lightly salted liquid. The pH level should fluctuate within 7-8, and the hardness should be from 2.4 to 5 meq/l. To reduce hardness, you can boil water or stand it for several days and drain only the top layer. To increase hardness, add calcium or magnesium chloride, soda (1 tsp per 50 l) to the water or lay the bottom with corals, rapana shells.

Coarse-grained sand is suitable for backfilling the bottom. Fish are especially fond of rummaging in it, called "architects" for their addiction to the construction of bizarre circles on the seabed. Thus, white-spotted pufferfish equip a nest and attract the attention of females who are ready to continue the race with a courteous gentleman.

Corals are laid on the bottom of the aquarium

You can decorate the habitat of fish with floating plants. If the roots of algae are buried in the sand, the pufferfish will instantly uproot them.

Diet in the aquarium

The fish has awesome jaws. The teeth on them merge into 4 monolithic plates and are able to bite even fishing tackle. Pufferfish are called “four-toothed” (lat. Tetraodontidae). Individuals are voracious and require constant feeding.

The main diet includes live food, shellfish, shrimp, crabs, starfish and urchins, squid, fish pieces, mussels, minced meat. When using dry plankton, it must first be soaked. Sometimes you can use food for herbivores.

Puffer teeth are constantly growing, so solid food- a necessary component for their grinding.

A real rarity - reproduction in an aquarium

For the reproduction of pufferfish in captivity, it is necessary to create the necessary conditions:

• purchase a spawning aquarium with a capacity of at least 100 liters;
• equip a lot of secluded places - shelters;
• plant plants with hard leaves;
• wait for the eggs to lay.

With the right content, puffer fish can breed in an aquarium.

At first, individuals touchingly flirt with each other: they walk in circles along the bottom, bite their partner on the cheek. Then the female lays up to 300 eggs on smooth stones, which are fertilized by the male. Then it is necessary to take the female from the spawning ground, and leave the offspring with the father. At the first danger, he will protect the eggs, inflating in the form of a ball.

After 6-8 days, larvae will appear, which the male will carefully transfer to a pre-prepared hole and will guard until they start feeding on their own.

Despite the difficulties of growing, fish of the pufferfish family remain the favorites of aquarists due to non-standard behavior, exotic frightening maneuvers. However, you should not often bring the blowfish to the state of a bloated ball, as this will shorten the life of a pet.

The Japanese love to walk around their Chinese neighbors, that they are ready to eat any four-legged, if it's not a table, and everything with wings, if not an airplane. And look what the Japanese themselves eat - they are not far from the Chinese. Suffice it to recall the fugue. Fugu, however, without legs and wings, because it is a dog fish from the pufferfish or pufferfish family, but is considered an excellent delicacy in Japan.

Fugu is the Japanese name for pufferfish. This family of fish from the order of symtomaxillas has many names. Pufferfish, four-toothed, puffer-toothed, dogfish ... Related families from the same order are referred to as: bodyfish, two-toothed (they are also hedgehogs) ... The pufferfish, which is found off the Hawaiian Islands, is known as the "death fish". Its bile was used to lubricate arrowheads: the poison brought certain death to the enemy.

According to the findings of archaeologists, the inhabitants of the Japanese islands ate fugu long before our era, and, judging by the fact that the Land of the Rising Sun is still densely populated, the ancient Japanese knew the secret of cooking this fish.

Fugu is a small, palm-sized fish that can swim tail first. Instead of scales, she has thin elastic skin. The deadly poison - tetrodotoxin - is found in milk, caviar, on the genitals, skin and liver of fugu. This substance has a nerve-paralytic effect. It is about 1200 times more dangerous than potassium cyanide.

The lethal dose for humans is only one milligram of tetrodotoxin. In one fish, this substance is enough to kill forty people. Moreover, there is still no effective antidote. In microscopic portions, fugu poison is used as a means of preventing age-related diseases and as a cure for prostate diseases.

In pufferfish, the fused jawbones form four plates (hence one of the names), and the entire dental apparatus resembles a parrot's beak. The skin of the fish is equipped with spikes.

Pufferfish are one of the most mysterious sea creatures. Perhaps these are the most poisonous fish in the oceans. Their most distinguishing feature is the ability to inflate their body, turning it into a ball bristling with thorns. Being frightened or excited, the puffer fish takes water (or air - everything is the same for him) into the bags located in the abdominal cavity - the volume of the fish increases three times - and remains "inflated" until the cause of stress disappears. The four-tooth holds the contents of the bags very tightly and does not give up, even if it is pulled out onto land. An adult man can stand on a bloated fish - a pufferfish and not think about releasing the water.

By the way, the strength of the skin of the pufferfish was noticed by the ancient Egyptians: after gutting the fish and stuffing it with algae, they used the resulting “ball” when playing balls. For this reason or for some other, but the four teeth were immortalized by the Egyptians. Images of dog fish are found on the tombs of the 5th dynasty - and this is a very deep story: the twenty-seventh century BC.

The largest specimens of pufferfish reach a meter in length, weigh up to fourteen kilograms. Not much is known about the life of these fish under water. Presumably, they are predators and use their beak as a military weapon: tear apart crabs, open bivalve mollusks, break open corals, attack sea ​​urchins and sea stars. Using the abdominal pouches as a water-jet apparatus, they conduct "overburden work" at the bottom, looking for prey under a layer of sand. Pufferfish have been known to bite through wire and rusted fishhooks. Finally, the following fact was also recorded: in one of the restaurants in Tokyo, a fugu that got on a cutting table did not reconcile with a sad fate and opened a finger to the chef.

Pufferfish have very mobile, iridescent eyes that shimmer in green and blue. Some species are characterized by photochromia: the lenses of their eyes change transparency depending on the intensity of the light.

Features of four teeth can be listed for a long time. For example, such a detail: under their eyes are tiny tentacles with ... nostrils. These are indeed organs of smell. Fish-dogs (perhaps the only motif that justifies this name) are able to distinguish odors in water in much the same way as sniffer dogs distinguish them in the air.

Finally, another point that should not be missed when describing our heroes is their way of swimming. They don't swim, they walk in the water. That is why, when describing their habits, such a turnover was used - "presumably - predators." It is not very clear how, with such sluggishness, four-tooths can attack fast-moving prey - for example, crabs.

Compared to most fish, there are very few bones in the body of a four-tooth. For example, the ribs and abdominal bones are completely absent - their role is played by powerful abdominal muscles. The flaccid fins do not have radii. The four-teeth drift languidly in the thickness of the ocean waters, moving their dorsal and hind fins in waves. The two pectoral fins flutter slightly to keep the fish on course. And the tail, which in the vast majority of marine life serves as the main mover, performs only the function of a rudder in pufferfish ...

The veneration of fugu in Japan has developed over the centuries into a genuine cult. In one of the parks in Tokyo there is a monument to this fish. There is a famous temple near Osaka, where there is a tombstone specially carved in honor of the fugu. Lamps and candlesticks are made from pufferfish, there are many workshops that specialize in making kites depicting - of course, stylized - a fugue.

But the main meeting of a person with fugu takes place in a restaurant. Here the gourmet literally entrusts his fate into the hands of the cook. All chefs who wish to cook fugu must have a special license, and one cannot be obtained without a long - up to two years - apprenticeship and rigorous written and practical examinations. The test looks like this. The candidate is given twenty minutes, during which he must cut the fugu and cook sashimi from it (this is the name of the dish from raw fish, which is served with a spicy soy sauce, horseradish and other spices). If a candidate makes even one mistake, he will not see a license until the next exam, the term of which will come up only in two years.

And yet chefs sometimes make mistakes. And then things take a dramatic turn. According to statistics, every ten years in Japan, more than two hundred people die from fugu poisoning. True, the defenders of the national delicacy note, most of these people died at home - they themselves tried to cook fugu, but did not cope with the task.

The complex art of fugu cooking requires the chef to perform thirty operations, and even the most experienced cooks take at least twenty minutes to do this. Especially popular among gourmets is not fugu soup, but raw puffer meat - sashimi.

With quick blows of the "hocho" - a sharp and thin knife - the cook separates the fins, cuts off the mouth apparatus and opens the belly of the fugu. Then he carefully removes the poisonous parts - the liver, ovaries, kidneys, eyes, removes the skin - it is no less poisonous - and begins to cut the fillet into the thinnest pieces. Next, all the meat must be thoroughly washed. running water to remove the slightest trace of blood and poison. And finally, the final stage comes. Finely-finely slicing the meat - the plates should not be thicker than paper - the chef places translucent, matte, "diamond" pieces of fillet on a dish, creating a picture. A picture in the literal sense of the word. It can be a landscape, or an image of a butterfly, or an image of a flying crane with spread wings and an outstretched neck. (The crane in Japan, by the way, is a symbol of longevity.)

That's all... Now, if you're interested, you can taste sashimi. This is how a non-Japanese daredevil describes the impressions of a dinner at which he dared to taste the incomparable puffer meat.

“I thought I was committing a crime by destroying the ‘picture’ on my plate. But, encouraged by the owner of the restaurant, I grabbed one of the crane's diamond feathers with my chopsticks and dipped it in a seasoning mixed with soy sauce, radish, and red pepper. Strangely, I did not feel the danger, but with each sip, excitement grew in me. The meat does not have a fibrous structure at all, it is most similar in consistency to gelatin. Very light taste. More like a chicken than a fish, only a distant hint indicates that it is a product of the sea. Someone remarked in the highest degree subtly that the taste of fugu is reminiscent of Japanese painting: something refined and elusive. And also very smooth, like Japanese silk ... "

The poison found in the various organs of fugu is called tetrodotoxin. When dry, it is a white powder. From one medium-sized pufferfish, very little is obtained - only a few tens of milligrams. And yet this number is enough to kill thirty people. By the way, why tetrodotoxin does not affect the pufferfish itself is also a mystery to scientists. In dissolved form, this substance serves as an anesthetic and is used as an analgesic for neuralgia, arthritis and rheumatism.

Of course, this tool must be used with great care. The lethal dose for humans is one milligram. There is no known antidote for tetrodotoxin...

And yet, despite the threat to life, Japanese gourmets eat pufferfish in such quantities that recently the problem of depleting fugu populations has become acute. Moreover, this applies equally to all types of dog fish that are used as food - the danger looms over both tiger puffer (the most revered) and mackerel ... More and more pufferfish are bred in artificial conditions, the achievements of the Mari culture penetrated into this area. And all why? To put new gourmets at risk?

No, it is better to leave these questions unanswered. Let's not dive into the depths of national psychology. The inconsistency of the fugu cult has long been recorded in Japanese folklore. How many centuries the Japanese have been eating fugu at the risk of their lives - for as many centuries there has been a saying: “Those who eat fugu soup are stupid people. But those who do not eat puffer soup are also stupid people.”

The most famous death from puffer occurred in 1975. Legendary kabuki actor Mitsugoro Bando Eight, who has been called "the living national treasure", has died of paralysis after eating fugu liver in a restaurant in Kyoto. It was his fourth attempt at a dangerous dish.

The most main riddle fugu - for the sake of which people take a mortal risk. Fans of extreme cuisine claim that the taste of pufferfish is reminiscent of Japanese paintings on silk - something refined, elusive and smooth. Kitaoji Rosannin, the creator of the delightful pottery, wrote: “The taste of this fish is incomparable. If you eat fugu three or four times, you become a fugu slave. All those who refuse this dish for fear of death are worthy of deep sympathy. It is believed that in addition to the incredible taste sensations, fugu has a narcotic effect. The aerobatics when preparing pufferfish is to leave exactly as much poison as necessary in order to cause a feeling of mild euphoria in the eaters. Gourmets who have tried this fish claim that as the dish is eaten, a paralyzing wave rolls in: first the legs are taken away, then the arms, then the jaws. Only the eyes retain the ability to move. However, after a moment everything comes to life: the gift of speech returns, arms and legs begin to move.

Bold pufferfish can even eat a scorpion, a poisonous centipede or a small snake. If we consider all the stories and facts, then we can say that the fugu is more terrible than sharks. We can say that pufferfish are marine honey badgers , are just as dangerous and frostbitten in behavior.

In its normal state, the body of a pufferfish is shaped like a rather ordinary fish. It is round and short. The head is large and very expressive. Powerful jaws, nostrils and eyes give the structure of the head a "frog" look. The eyes are set far apart. Some species can move their eyes around their body. The fins are only pectoral, but well developed. With their help, the fish can move not only forward, but also backward.

All puffer fish are small in size, and only some species can reach an impressive length of 1.2 m. They are typical inhabitants of coral reefs, however, they are also found in freshwater rivers in South America and North Africa. The entire body of the pufferfish is covered with small sharp needles. The fish uses these spikes as a defensive shield. Taking in a large amount of water, it swells like a balloon, exposing its needles. The attacker cannot grab the fish (try to catch an apple hanging from a string with his teeth) and leaves it alone. If the predator is large enough to capture the bloated pufferfish whole, then both die. The attacker, because he cannot swallow a sharp ball - the needles cling to the throat, and the victim, because he cannot get out of the closed mouth.

Biologists believe that the ability to inflate an elastic stomach due to a large amount of water (or air) appeared in fish in the process of evolution. By themselves, these fish are very slow, and instead of running away from the attacker, they have acquired sharp needles and the ability to increase several times in size. The shape of the ball turns the fish into an absolutely inedible bubble. And the poison that accumulates on the thorns is 1200 times stronger than cyanide. One fish contains so much of it that it is enough to kill 30 adults, and there is no known antidote in nature.

Surprisingly, pufferfish meat is an exceptional delicacy. The most famous dish is made from puffer fish in Japan. It is prepared only by chefs who have received a license to cook fish. However, deaths due to improperly prepared pufferfish still occur today.

By the way, puffer fish can also be found in Russia. Most recently, in September 2010, two tourists from Khabarovsk died after eating fish soup caught in the Sea of ​​Japan.

These fish are quite aggressive. Small pufferfish still gather in flocks, but adults always live alone, trying not to have close proximity to their relatives. They are jealous of their territory, plying it for hours in search of prey. Pufferfish feed on algae and invertebrates. large species chew on mussels and clams. Their mouth is 4 large fused teeth.

Noticing a threat to their sovereignty, the fish attack without hesitation. As if sensing her impunity, she also rushes at the larger "guest". Cases have been repeatedly recorded when pufferfish bit the fingers of people and the reproductive organs of men.

Some freshwater species of pufferfish live in home aquariums. Fish owners warn other aquarists to protect their fingers when feeding or cleaning. Despite the seeming sluggishness, the fish can make a quick short-term jump.

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