Are figure-eight puffers toxic?

H

Hrafnkel

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Jul 21, 2005
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I've heard kind of mixed info on this (and lots of things about the species, size in particular), and was wondering if they're toxic like other pufferfish can be?
 
Yes, but it's a) not as toxic as many, and b) confined to internal organs. It doesn't pose a threat to you working in the tank, just don't try making puffer tempura.
 
Just like the poison dart frogs, puffers do not create their toxins but get them from their diet. Long-term captives will have lost much of their toxin, but who can say how much or where/when the toxin really extinguishes? But so long as you do not eat them or fondle them for extended periods(? why would you - bad for the fish anyway), there should be no risk involved.
 
Alright, thanks. And that's good, I wasn't planning on eating the fish, or feeling it up. :P Thanks for the replies.
 
I wasn't willing to get into that--I saw the story on a biologist who raised the fugu and carefully controlled the diet, and got adults with no poison, and figured that would apply to long term aquarium fish as well, but wasn't sure. I think I recall some saying that the toxins may still be present (ie, compounds are inherent to the fish, but don't become deadly without a key component from the diet), just in low amounts.
 
The active material is present in too many very widely separated critters to be de novo manufacture. Plus there are no specialized structures for storing any bugs responsible as there are in other species hosting speciality microbes. Occam's razor and all toxin level seasonal variations point to a dietary source with "intentional" storage. The bugs responsible seem to be near relatives of Pseudomonas.
 
Good to know! I appreciate the clarification--the show I watched didn't go into near the detail I wanted, and I hadn't had time to pursue it further.
 
RTR said:
LOL! Being a puffer addict, these things turn up in my life regularly... Hello, my name is Robert and I am a tankaholic, with a special weakness for puffers...
Click to expand...

Hi Robert!!!!!!!!! :hi: :hi: :hi: Welcome to Tankaholics Anonymous (aka Aquariacentral). Your among friends here.
 
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