Help me please...my puffer inhaled air

[engwife36]

The puffer got sucked up in the overflow and inhaled all air. He's floating at the top of the tank.
HOW DO I GET THE AIR OUT.............HE DOESN'T LOOK GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!
Please help me,

[JimD]

Puffers usually do that as a defence mechanism, how long has he been like that? Turn the lights off and keep a close eye on him.... He should be ok.

[cbianco]

I was under the impression that puffers could not be forced to "exhale" without hurting them.

Even if I am wrong here is a free bump! Good luck.

Christopher :)

[Bill S]

He'll figure it out eventually. Once he figures out he's safe, he'll deflate. Assuming the trip didn't hurt him other than that. I've caught (and eaten - they are REALLY good!) 100s of puffers... We used to catch them as kids all the time. Tickle them, then let them go.

[engwife36]

:blush Thanks, he's good now. We were scared since my hubby saw him inhale air along with water when he puffed up. My husband has been working on him for a while now and he said he's good now. I guess he's been holding him under the water making him exhale the air and when he puffs up, he's been inhaling water or something. My husband said he's back to normal swimming around now. Thanks for the help though. I appreciate it a lot! :wub

[erikharrison]

TAKE PICTURES NEXT TIME!!!! Ours has puffed up a couple of times, they just exhale, looks like they're burping.

[gcantu]

I've caught (and eaten - they are REALLY good!) 100s of puffers... We used to catch them as kids all the time.

:o
I've heard certain puffers are poisonous! Supposedly there are a select number chefs that know how to actually prepare them. Something about a certain organ that looks similar to another and if eaten can cause death in humans. I'll look to see if I can find the article. I don't know which puffer it is but supposedly the dish costs alot of money in Japan.


"Puffer fish are a delicacy in Japan with a single serving in a restaurant costing hundreds of dollars. Only trained and licensed chefs may prepare puffer fish in Japan taking particular care with the gonads, skin, liver and intestines. Chefs are required to pass a strict written exam and demonstrate their technique by preparing puffer fish (fugu) and then eating it. On successful completion of the test, which only has a 25% pass rate, a license is issued by the Department of Health.

Despite the care taken in preparation, in some cases the diner experiences numbness in the tongue and lips, sensations that often disappear. In other cases these symptoms are followed by more serious events such as headaches, nausea, vomiting and paralysis of the face and extremities. Extreme cases will experience acute paralysis, respiratory distress, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmia and speech impairment and finally, death.

Death usually occurs within hours but some patients exist in zombie like states of suspended animation for days before experiencing complete recovery. During all of these events the patient remains completely lucid. Estimates are that as many as 200 cases of such poisonings a year with half of the victims dying. The culprit in these cases is a deadly poison found in the puffer fish-tetrodotoxin.

See the FDA, Bad bug Book 1 and Bad bug Book 2"
Chemical Ecology (Session I 2001)

Copied from this website:
http://www.life.umd.edu/grad/mlfsc/zctsim/pufferintro.html

[Bill S]

We used to catch them as kids. When they ran in the spring (this was in South Jersey), we'd tie a piece of bacon on a fishing line, and then net them out. 200 in an afternoon was not unusual. We'd skin them with pliers. Then Mom would fry them up! MAN they were good. I was especially fond of the blowfish roe... We'd get that for breakfast. I have to think these were not like the sushi puffers...