If you have ever snorkeled or dived around the Gili Islands, chances are you have seen a pufferfish.
Maybe it was hiding under a coral ledge.
Maybe it was slowly cruising across a sandy patch looking slightly confused.
Or maybe it looked like it was permanently smiling.
Whatever the case, pufferfish are among the most entertaining fish on the reef.
And honestly, the more you learn about them, the stranger they become.
First Things First: How Does a Pufferfish Puff?
Most people assume pufferfish fill themselves with air.
They do not.
Instead, they rapidly suck in huge amounts of water.
Their stomach is incredibly elastic and can expand several times its normal size. When threatened, the fish gulps water and inflates into a giant spiky balloon.
The result is simple:
Suddenly a small fish becomes much bigger and much harder for predators to swallow.
It is one of nature’s most effective defense mechanisms.
And honestly, it works surprisingly well.
Most predators take one look at an inflated pufferfish and decide it is not worth the effort.
They Don’t Like Puffing
One thing many people do not realize is that puffing is actually stressful for the fish.
It is an emergency response.
Not a party trick.
Unfortunately, some tourists try to make pufferfish inflate for photos.
This should never happen.
The fish uses a huge amount of energy when puffing and only does so when it feels genuinely threatened.
A relaxed pufferfish is a happy pufferfish.
The best encounters happen when you simply observe them naturally.
Can They Only Puff a Few Times?
You may have heard the story that pufferfish can only puff a few times during their lives.
The reality is slightly more complicated.
Scientists do not believe there is a strict limit on the number of times a pufferfish can inflate. However, puffing is physically demanding and creates significant stress.
Repeatedly forcing a fish to inflate can weaken it and increase its vulnerability to predators.
So while there may not be a magical “three puffs and you’re done” rule, it is still something the fish should only do when absolutely necessary.
One of the Most Toxic Animals in the Ocean
Here is where things get even stranger.
Many pufferfish contain a powerful toxin called tetrodotoxin.
This toxin is extremely dangerous and can be fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.
In fact, it is far more poisonous than cyanide.
The toxin protects the fish from predators and is concentrated in certain organs such as the liver and ovaries.
And yet, despite the danger, pufferfish are considered a delicacy in Japan, where specially trained chefs prepare a dish known as fugu.
Honestly, that feels like a very brave dining choice.
Dolphins Use Pufferfish Like Toys
This might be the weirdest pufferfish fact of all.
Several documentaries have shown dolphins gently passing pufferfish between one another.
Researchers believe the dolphins may intentionally trigger the release of small amounts of toxins from the fish.
The theory is that these toxins create a mild narcotic effect, causing unusual playful behavior among the dolphins.
Scientists still debate exactly what is happening.
But honestly, watching dolphins carefully “play catch” with a pufferfish is one of the strangest wildlife interactions ever filmed.
They Have Teeth Like Beaks
The name pufferfish actually covers many different species.
One thing they all share is a powerful beak-like mouth.
Their teeth are fused together into a strong structure capable of crushing:
- Crabs
- Shellfish
- Sea urchins
- Hard-shelled invertebrates
For a fish that looks so cute, they have surprisingly powerful jaws.
Keep an Eye Out Around the Gilis
Pufferfish are commonly seen around the reefs of the Gili Islands.
Divers and snorkelers often spot them around coral bommies, sandy patches, and reef edges.
Sometimes they are tiny.
Sometimes they are surprisingly large.
But they almost always seem to have a curious personality.
And that is part of their charm.
Turtles may be the stars of the Gilis.
Sharks may get all the attention.
But few reef animals make people smile as consistently as a pufferfish floating calmly through the coral reef looking like it has absolutely nowhere important to be.