Pufferfish Species & How to Catch this Poisonous Fish!

Do you want to know more about pufferfish species? Check out its characteristics, facts, species and fishing tips here!

Tetraodontidae or pufferfish, as they are popularly called, are iconic fish, the only ones in the ocean capable of swallowing water and air to swell their bodies to up to three times their original size. They can be found in waters around the world, and are often fished for their meat, which is traditionally used in Asian cuisine.

Despite being widely consumed, this fish has a powerful poison that can even kill humans. In this article, you will learn everything about this incredible fish, from its life, species, its lethal venom, to how to find and fish it.

Get to know the puffer fish

The name “pufferfish” has its origins in the ancient Tupi term “baîaku”, which means ‘something poisonous’. This fish is common in river waters in South America, and mainly in Brazil, where it can be caught and enjoyed as a traditional ingredient in sashimi. Learn more about this fascinating species of fish below.

■ General characteristics

Also called “Balloon Fish”, the pufferfish’s most notable feature is its ability to inflate its body when it feels threatened. This is a defense mechanism that scares predators with the sudden change in size.

If the predator attacks it anyway, this fish has one of the most powerful poisons in the animal world. A small amount is capable of killing even a human being. Therefore, it is essential to remove all poisonous parts of the fish before preparing it for consumption.

There are around 125 species discovered to date, two of which are very present in Brazil, these are: Colomesus asellus, which inhabits fresh water and can reach up to 12 centimeters; and Colomesus Psittacus, which inhabits both river and sea water, and grows up to 30 centimeters. Below there are still a multitude of facts and curiosities about the pufferfish to discover!

■ Puffer fish reproduction

Pufferfish reproduction takes place during the flood season, between the months of September and January. After being fertilized, the female releases 3 to 7 eggs, which float to the surface and hatch within a week. The babies then finish their development and go deeper to meet other pufferfish.

There are also species in which the male takes care of the young. When they hatch, the fry leave the eggs and remain in a cavity that is guarded by the male, this condition lasts for about one or two weeks. After this, the male leaves the area and the cubs go out to sea.

■ Food

Puffer fish are omnivores, meaning it is no exaggeration to say that they eat everything. With a quick search you can find videos of this fish eating everything from frogs to centipedes or crabs. This is mainly because of their teeth, which are fully capable of chewing hard things. In its natural habitat, the pufferfish usually feeds on molluscs, crustaceans and other invertebrates, but in addition it feeds on plants and even detritus.

When in captivity, they may refuse dry food. Instead, live or frozen food should be provided. Furthermore, it is recommended to regularly give snails, hard-shelled shellfish or even calcareous sand so that the pufferfish can use up its teeth, as they are always growing and can cause problems for the fish if they become too big.

■ Habitats

Pufferfish inhabit waters all over the world, staying away from only the coldest ones, close to the poles. Being a pelagic fish, that is, it does not need the bottom of the oceans to survive, it usually inhabits depths of up to 300 meters, preferring above all to be close to reefs.

In Brazil, the species popularly known as “Amazon Puffer” inhabits the Amazon basin. The “Papagaio Puffer”, which is a saltwater species, can be found all along the national coast.

Discover pufferfish species

Around 125 species of pufferfish have been discovered to date. Some of them can reach almost a meter in length, while others are so small that their maximum size is just 2 centimeters. But they all have beautiful and colorful specimens. Below, you will meet some of them!

■ Macaw pufferfish

The Macaw Pufferfish is native to the Western Atlantic Ocean, but can also be found on the African coast. It lives in coastal regions, at shallow depths, and in estuaries. As an adult, having pelagic habits, it prefers to remain in the high seas and usually lives alone or in small groups.

It can reach 60 centimeters in length and its body does not have scales. Its back has a variable color, ranging from a shade of yellowish-green to grayish-blue. The sides are whitish and have small thorns.

■ Freshwater pufferfish

Its scientific name is Colomesus asellus, but it is also known as the Amazon Puffer Fish. Freshwater Pufferfish can be found mainly in the Amazon basin, in the main channels of the Amazon and Solimões rivers, but in addition, in the Pará, Tocantins, Negro, Madeira rivers, among others. This species prefers waters with high oxygen levels, and can tolerate slightly brackish water.

Growing up to 13 centimeters and living for around five years, this fish is used extensively as an ornamental in aquariums. This is because his skin has beautiful shades of gold with black spots, which gives him a peculiar beauty.

■ Painted pufferfish

Inhabitant of Asian seas, Painted Pufferfish (Dichotomyctere nigroviridis) can be found from the coasts of Indonesia to northern China. Living for more than 10 years in captivity, it is common for them to be found at 12 centimeters in length, but they can reach up to 17 centimeters. As adults, they usually live in freshwater rivers and streams or even flooded plains. Young ones are found in brackish water.

Its diet consists primarily of snails, but it can also include molluscs, crustaceans and plants. This species may also resort to the practice of eating scales from other fish.

When bred in aquariums, they can attack other fish that are not of the same species, so it is preferable to have an aquarium with just this pufferfish.

■ Thorn pufferfish

Also known as Urchin Fish, and with the scientific name Diodontidae, this species can be found in both the Eastern Pacific and Western Atlantic, and also in the Western Indian Ocean. They are the most common image that comes to mind when we think of puffer fish, as they have spines all over their bodies.

This is the trait that most differentiates them from their relatives with fewer spines. Generally, they can be found at 40 centimeters in length, but larger specimens reach up to 91 centimeters. Its skin is yellowish-green on the back and yellow on the belly.

When young, these fish favor pelagic environments, therefore, they remain in the high seas, unlike when they reach adulthood, when they prefer lagoons and coral reefs up to 50 meters deep. In these, Thorn Puffers usually hide under rocks during the day.

When it comes to diet, this fish usually feeds on sea urchins, snails and crustaceans. To catch it, it is best to try at night, as it is a nocturnal animal and usually only hunts when it gets dark. And it likes to remain alone, being a solitary fish, except when it is mating.

■ Parrot Pufferfish

The Parrot Pufferfish, whose scientific name is Colomesus psittacus, is one of the pufferfish species that can swim in both freshwater and saltwater. They can be found all along the coast of Brazil and also in the Amazon. Furthermore, it also tends to inhabit mangroves and other regions that have salt or brackish water.

Its diet is exclusively carnivorous and consists mostly of molluscs. When in captivity, they feed on snails, shellfish and also shrimp.

■ Pan pufferfish

With the scientific name Sphoeroides spengleri, but also popularly known as Puffer Fish, this species can be found from Massachusetts (USA) to Santa Catarina. These fish live only in salt water, remaining on coasts and reefs. In terms of depth, they vary between 2 to 74 meters.

Its skin is brownish in color and has several scattered black dots, a characteristic that sets it apart from other species. Its body only reaches a maximum length of 16 centimeters. With a carnivorous diet, it feeds mainly on crustaceans and molluscs, such as shrimp, crabs and starfish.

Puffer Fish Fishing Tips

These are not difficult fish to catch, but it is always good to have information on the easiest method to do so! Below, we’ve selected great tips and recommendations so you can catch them more easily.

■ Best baits for puffer fish

As mentioned in the feeding section, these fish like live or frozen food, and this also extends to the baits you should use when fishing for them.

If you opt for live bait, be aware that pufferfish are very fond of shrimp, mussels, blood worms, pieces of mugil and squid. When it comes to artificial baits, you can use Poppers and soft plastic baits.

■ Recommended lines and hooks for blowfish

You don’t need very powerful equipment to fish for pufferfish. Speaking of line, since these fish are not good swimmers, a light fishing rod with relatively strong line will do the trick. When it comes to hooks, it is recommended that you use one with a long shank, with a sinker to sink it to the depths where the fish are.

■ How to catch blowfish

Once you find it, pufferfish are not very difficult to catch. The first step is to throw bait into the water (it is recommended to use dead shrimp or another animal that is part of the fish’s diet), the strong smell of prey will attract them closer. Next, you must lower your line into the area where the baits are, and keep it firmly tensioned, this will increase sensitivity to bites, and you will feel it if the pufferfish bites your bait.

When you feel the bite, you should give a gentle jerk to secure the hook in the fish’s mouth. This moment is extremely important, as pufferfish are excellent at stealing bait, so the attack must be quick, so that it does not escape.

Having hooked the pufferfish, pull it towards you. He shouldn’t offer much resistance since he doesn’t swim very well. Once out of the water, use gloves to catch it, this way you prevent all types of contact with the fish’s skin, as this is one of the places where the dangerous toxin is present. Be careful when removing the hook, as its teeth are quite sharp. You can even use pliers to carry out this procedure.

If you intend to consume the pufferfish later, do not place it on ice after catching it, as the cold will make the fish’s skin hard, making it difficult to remove it and the other organs that contain the poison. Instead, you should store it in a bucket of water.

Curiosities about puffer fish

Pufferfish are formidable animals, and the interesting facts about them don’t stop there! Below, you can read a series of interesting facts about these fish.

■ Can be fished with artificial bait

In addition to Popper baits, plastic Soft baits can also be used to fish for puffer fish. In fact, Soft baits are very similar to the invertebrates that many species of this fish usually eat, so they are naturally attracted to them.

■ Not a difficult fish to catch

Pufferfish are easy fish to catch. Its small size means that it does not take much effort to lift them, and its low swimming speed makes it an easy prey to deal with when hooked. All of this makes them ideal targets for beginners, there are even introductory fishing programs that teach even children how to catch these fish.

■ Pufferfish have a strong set of teeth

The pufferfish’s powerful set of teeth is actually the origin of its scientific name: Tetraodontidae, which comes from the Greek meaning “four teeth.” Relying on its two lower teeth and two upper ones, which come together in the middle in a shape similar to a beak, it can deal with practically everything that is underwater, breaking lobster shells and even chewing sediments in search of nutrients. .

■ Puffer fish is a common fish in Brazilian waters

There is a great abundance of this fish in Brazilian waters. It can be found along the entire coast of the country, inhabiting coral reefs, mangroves and also freshwater rivers throughout the Amazon.

■ Puffer fish is the fish that steals the most bait

With extremely strong teeth, puffer fish are champion fish when it comes to stealing bait. Many fishermen hate them for having their bait stolen, trying to catch other types of fish. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the bites on your bait when you are fishing.

Puffer fish poison

Despite being widely consumed, the pufferfish carries one of the most deadly poisons in the world in its body. A thousand times more powerful than cyanide, it is essential that the poisonous organs of the fish are discarded before using it for meals. Below you can learn a little more about this deadly toxin.

■ Puffer fish is one of the most poisonous fish in the world

The pufferfish’s poisonous toxin is called Tetrodotoxin, just 2 grams of this substance is enough to kill a person. The total amount found in the fish can kill up to 30. No antidotes have been discovered so far, but with quick help, the poisoning can be treated.

This is done through gastric lavage and detoxifying medication. The parts that contain this toxin are the skin, liver, ovaries and testicles.

■ Pufferfish venom can kill people

The blowfish’s venom is extremely lethal, and its symptoms are frightening. Upon coming into contact with the toxin, the first symptom felt by the person is the numbness in the lips and fingers, which soon begin to spasm. Then, the numbness is followed by muscle weakness, episodes of diarrhea and vomiting.

Finally, there are spasms in the lungs, which lead to death. Most victims of poisoning by this toxin die from respiratory arrest. Sometimes there is also total paralysis of the body, since the poison interrupts the brain activity responsible for controlling it. However, the person remains conscious at all times.

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Despite all this, the venom has recently been synthesized to create a powerful painkiller. By administering a very small amount, this medication can completely reduce body pain. The use of this medication is quite common in patients who have cancer.