Mystic Aquarium

Info

Size:

These small to medium-sized fish can range from less than 10 inches to over 36 inches.

Range/Distribution:

Found in all temperate, tropical and subtropical waters.  Including areas in North America (Florida to Massachusetts, California to Mexico), South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Appearance:

These fish will have a lighter or white belly with light brown to tan background coloration.  Some fish will have small black spots to large dark colored patches decorating the body.  Within the large mouth are powerful teeth that have formed into a modified beak for crushing food.  These animals lack pelvic fins and typical fish scales.

Although well known for their ability to increase their body size by almost 300%, these animals typically have a streamlined body.  To puff up their size, fish in the family Diodontidae will inflate their flexible stomach with water or air when at the surface of the water; to deflate; they will expel the water or air through their mouth or gills.  Burrfish and porcupinefish are easily recognized by short and long spines that cover the animals’ body.  These spines will lie flat against the body, however, when inflated; these spines will protrude directly out to further protect the animal from predators.

Habitat:

Juveniles can be found in the open ocean.  As adults, most species will inhabit coral reefs or rocky area as well as grass beds and sandy bottoms.  These animals are often found hiding in dark caves or hiding holes.

Prey:

Hard shelled invertebrate (e.g. snails, clams, sea urchin)

Predators:

Humans, sharks, wahoo. Juveniles are prey for large pelagic fish such as tuna.

Mating Behaviors:

Usually solitary animals, males and females will come together to deeper waters for mating.  Spawning will occur in large numbers and fertilized eggs will drift with the ocean currents.  Hatching occurs approximately 5 days after fertilization.  Once hatched, some species will not be able to eat or see for days and will feed off of reminent yolk.  After larva completes development, young will use floating seaweed for protection until they travel to shallower areas and become adults.

FAQ

Q: How many pufferfish do you have at the aquarium?

A: “We have 15 different puffers here at the aquarium and there are five different types: porcupine puffers, burrfish, stars & stripes puffers, map puffer and a golden puffer."

Q: Why do you train the puffer fish?

A: "We started the porcupine pufferfish training when they first arrived at the aquarium to ensure they were receiving the proper care which included the proper diet in a mixed species exhibit they live in. Training also allows us to enrich and stimulate the pufferfish and their environment."

Q: How do you train pufferfish?

A: “In order to train our puffer fish Milton and Wilbur we started with small approximations to teach them to associate a target with feeds.  We started by using the target touching it to their nose and then reinforcing them with food.  That food is a positive reinforcement for them that allow them to make this association.  As they began to understand the target we were able to move the target further away from them and have them swim to touch the target touch their nose and they would then again receive the food.  Now that the target behavior is established with our porcupine puffers, we are able to feed them simultaneously with the rest of the tank.”

Q: What do pufferfish eat at the aquarium?

A: “Our puffer fish is fed a mixed diet that includes; fish called capelin, shrimp, clam meat and a gel food that is specially prepared for fish."

Q: "Why do pufferfish puff?"

A: "Puffer fish are very steady swimmers and although are good at navigating through the coral reefs that they inhabit; they tend to be very slow.  Therefore, they puff up and inflate as a defense mechanism."

Q: "How do pufferfish puff and deflate?"

A:"Puffer fish gulp in or swallow water when they feel threatened.  If they are near the surface or removed from the water, typically by a bird, they can also swallow air.  When they feel threatened they will inflate themselves; the puffer fish skin is reinforced with connective tissue called collagen fibers that allow this expansion to occur and they have also lost their pelvic girdle which is a set of bones that extends below the gills into a fish’s abdomen.  The absence of this pelvic girdle also allows for more room of expansion.  They can up to triple their size which makes it harder for predators to attack.  The porcupine puffers in our coral reef tank have the added defense of spines that become erect when they inflate and lie flat along their body otherwise.  When they deflate, they exhale through their mouth or through their gills."

Q: " Where are the pufferfish at the Aquarium?"

A: "If you want to come down and see our puffer fish, they can be found in three tanks.  We have our Burrfish tank, our Coral reef (that houses our porcupine puffers and burrfish), and our Predators of the Reef that houses our map puffer, stars and stripes puffer, and the golden puffer."

Q: "What is your favorite part of working with the pufferfish?"

A: "I like working with the puffer fish because they have a strong personality. Most people don’t think of fish as very personable but they truly are.  Puffer fish are the perfect example of a fish that seem happy to see you when you walk in."

Photos

Videos

Learn all about the wonderful puffers from Mystic Aquarium aquarist, Jill Reeves.

Podcast

Species of the Month Podcast: Porcupine Fish

Join Mystic Aquarium's Kelly Matis and MaryEllen Mateleska as they discuss the amazing adaptations puffers have for protection.

Kelly and MaryEllen want to hear from you! Send questions, comments and suggestions for future podcast topics to educationinfo@mysticaquarium.org.

Download