I think it is sea fish, so it is not available in my country and I have no idea about such kind of fish, but I still recommend your point of view.

All the best.

Pufferfish holds tetrodotoxin, a death-prone toxin which is 1,200 times more poisonous than Cyanide. The poison of one pufferfish is enough to wipe out 30 humans. Yet, there is no significant antidote known

Thanks brothers Prof. Emad and Dr. Jahangir for your great support and cents to the discussion. I am grateful

It is a serious non-hostile fish, blowing itself up when feeling threatened in preparation for an attack.

The body of the fish contains a type of poison called tetrodotoxin, which is found in the skin and some of its internal organs. Poisoning occurs in the case of eating, but with this, its meat is eaten in Japan (fugufish) and Korea (bogoefish) and is cooked by specialists in this field. Important: Artificial respiration may keep a person alive for even medical care at the hospital.

I think you can make intensify public health education by motivate and introduce help with continuous encouragement ( by official government and social peoples) to the fiance (speaker) of the mosque or the church, teachers in schools, mayor of the town ( area), Sheikh of the clan, Doctors and hospital staffs to talk and spread the news of the seriousness of this issue as well as to the media and publication of posters around the country that indicate the dangerous of this pufferfish, and many other extra ways. Best wishes, Naseer Almukhtar

Many thanks my good brothers Profs Isam, Naseer and dear friend Prof. Aparna for supporting the discussions and sharing your interesting views. Kind regards

Ocean products since the Fukusima disaster require more information for consumers of quite possible massive contaminations ...

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Fukusima+disaster+and+Pacific+contamination&view=detail&mid=4A3DA1DB42DAA15AD8C64A3DA1DB42DAA15AD8C6&FORM=VIRE

Dear Prof. Len,

I sincerely appreciate your kind support for the discussion and particularly for sending us this important link regarding the Fukusima disaster and the radioactivity contamination it has caused to the Pacific ocean and it's aquatic resources. We are very much grateful. Thank you. Kind regards

Takifugu oblongus, for example, is a fugu puffer that is not poisonous, and toxin level varies wildly even in fish that are. A puffer's neurotoxin is not necessarily as toxic to other animals as it is to humans, and puffers are eaten routinely by some species of fish, such as lizardfish and tiger sharks. Here is the Species summary page in FishBase for this species: https://fishbase.ca/summary/Takifugu-oblongus.html

But many puffer fish species are indeed very poisonous and despite precautions of experienced chefs apparently five people per year on average make it their last meal and many more get seriously sick.

Some better targeted information may be useful in prevention, however, some habits are not easy to change despite the danger.

Dear Dr. Cornelia,

Many thanks to you for shedding this great light on the puffer fish. I am very thankful for the very useful link that you have also provided. Kind regards

The liver, gall bladder, intestine, gonads and skins of pufferfish contains sufficient amount of a neurotoxin named 'tetrodotoxin'. Therefore, consumption of pufferfish is injurious to human health. Outbreaks of pufferfish poisoning have been reported from several countries of the world.

Health communication campaign in pufferfish poisoning outbreak areas would be helpful in enhancing people's knowledge about the health effects of pufferfish consumption.

Please have a look at this useful ResearchGate link and PDF attachment.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/45589632_Toxins_of_Pufferfish_That_Cause_Human_Intoxications

10 Facts About Puffer Fish

By Vanessa Voltolina

When we think of puffer fish, most of us conjure an image of a bloated-looking fish with 360-degree quills. But if you look beyond the spikes, you’ll find a fish with a fascinating background. If you’re considering adding a puffer fish to your aquarium, or just want to learn more about these fish, here are ten facts about this exotic fish species:

Fact #1: Species Abound!

There are more than 120 different species of puffer fish, said Kristin Claricoates, DVM at Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital. The majority of them are marine-water fishes (read: require a salt water aquarium). However, she said that there are 40 types of puffer fish found in brackish waters (a mix of salt and fresh water), and 29 species are found in freshwater. Pufferfish can vary from two inches to up to several feet in length.

Fact #2: Puffer Fish are a Delicacy…

Did you know that most puffer fish, when eaten, are toxic to predators—and even humans? According to Claricoates, despite this risk, countries such as Korea, China and Japan consider puffer fish a culinary delicacy and only specially-trained chefs know how to serve them safely.

Fact #3: … That can be Deadly

The toxin in the puffer fish, called tetrodotoxin, is found throughout its body, and is actually produced by bacteria, said Dr. Nick Saint-Erne, Certified Aquatic Veterinarian from PetSmart. Puffers that have been raised in a bacteria-free environment experimentally did not produce the toxin in that instance. However, the the chefs who prepare Fugu, or puffer fish fillets, were not interested in serving a fish that did not have the toxin, as the numbing effect from the toxin when the fish is eaten is the appeal of eating puffer fish, he said. Even with proper preparation by a trained chef, about a half dozen diners die every year from the paralyzing effects of eating puffer fish, so they should generally not be considered food.

Fact #4: Puffer Fish are a Multi-Threat Fish

Despite using their fins to help them swim (with a tail fin acting as a rudder), puffer fish are notoriously slow-moving. However, they do have other methods for deterring—or defeating—predators out to get them, said Claricoates, including:

• Excellent eye sight, which is helpful scouting food or detecting predators early. 
• A burst of energy which they can muster to swim quickly away from predators (albeit in a poorly controlled direction).
• If they are unable to get away, they enact the process they are known for: they gulp in a large amount of water (or if out of water, air) to make themselves large and unappealing, she said. This puffing, in addition to their spines and quills, makes them tough for a predator to swallow (and may get stuck in a throat). 

Even if a predator successfully eats a puffer fish, it may die from the toxin in the puffer fish’s body.

Fact #5: Spines vs. Scales

Puffer fish do not have scales, but instead have spines (which you may not be able to get a good look at until they puff up), said Claricoates. Because puffer fish don’t have scales, they are very sensitive to water variations and tend to be more at-risk for diseases. As a fish owner, you have to be sure that the water quality is excellent—specifically nitrite, nitrate and ammonia levels in your tank. If these levels are high, it often indicates a dirty tank, and can create health issues for your fish, she said. “Routinely do water quality checks to ensure the ideal health of your fish,” she said. Water checks can be done by fish stores for you on a monthly basis or you can purchase a home kit to test your water, she said.

Fact #6: Puffer Fish Require an Experienced Owner

“Puffer fish are not the ideal fish for a new fish owner,” said Claricoates, “nor should they be an impulse purchase.” These fish require top water quality, lots of space and a good diet. Additionally, if you have dreams of a fish tank filled with all species, these aren’t your fish. Puffer fish aren’t community fish, and must be kept alone, as they are carnivorous.

“They will either eat the other fish that are small enough, or they will bite at the other fish’s fins if they are too big to eat,” she said. “If, however, the puffer fish is very small, they will likely starve because they’re too small to compete with better and faster swimmers in the tank. A puffer fish, if kept in an ideal environment, can live up to ten years.”

Fact #7: They are What They Eat

In the wild, puffer fish are predators, and eat a variety of snails, shellfish, crustaceans and other fish, said Claricoates. In captivity, puffers will eat almost anything, so a variety of foods should be offered to allow for a healthy mix, she said.

Claricoates recommends a diet consisting of foods with shells, including blue crab, mussels, clams, shrimp, live snails and bloodworms. “At home, finding something that is human-grade food quality is important to keep your puffer fish healthy,” she said. “Live food is good for enrichment, and preferable, but freshly-killed or frozen food will work as well as long as it is human-grade fresh.”

She also advised that when or if you are offering live food, it must be quarantined (in a separate aquarium) for a month prior to feeding it to your puffer fish. This ensures the food is healthy and prevents puffer illness from unhealthy food. 

Fact #8: A Puffer Fish’s Teeth Never Stop Growing

Many fish species have teeth that stop growing at some point, but puffer fish do not. Because they eat hard foods, they have teeth (also called beaks) that continuously grow throughout their lives, said Claricoates. This makes it paramount to offer your puffer fish food with hard shells to help organically trim their teeth. Without snails or the like, your puffer fish may require veterinary dental attention.

“Otherwise, [a puffer fish’s teeth] can grow too long and result in the inability to eat, and even starvation,” she said. 

Fact #9: High-Quality H20 Required

How much you feed your puffer fish—and what is left over—will cause elevations of the nitrates and nitrites in your tank. Additionally, puffer fish are very messy eaters. Both of these issues can cause a lot of ammonia to be released into the tank, said Claricoates, which places a higher demand on your tank’s filtration system.

Saint-Erne recommends changing 10 to 25 percent of the water in new aquariums each week, using dechlorinated water, then a 25 percent water change every two-to-four weeks after the aquarium nitrogen-cycle has been established and there is no more ammonia detected in the water. 

Remember, while many puffers are saltwater fish, there are a few species available in fish stores that are freshwater, and it will be important to determine which species your fish is as you set up your tank.

Fact #10: You’ll Need to Super-Size Your Tank Space

When it comes to tank size, puffer fish require a significant step up from that of a goldfish. The tank size for a small puffer fish should be 20 to 30 gallons, said Claricoates, and a large puffer fish can require a tank up to 100 gallons or more in size.

reference/https://www.petmd.com/fish/general-health/10-facts-about-puffer-fish

regards

I follow

Dear Dickson Adom, Dear All,

Thank you for your very interesting materials about this amazing fish! I found the beautiful video: "A Stunning Artwork by the Japanese Puffer fish" and "Pufferfish's Deadly Toxins Could Help Chemo Patients" https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/videos/david-attenboroughs-life-story/a-stunning-artwork-by-the-japanese-puffer-fish-4061.aspx

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pufferfishs-deadly-toxin-could-help-chemo-patients-3446252/#iTqcLhT21p8y16vB.01

Follow

This type of fish makes the neighborhood alive. In a period of poisoning a part of the human body, it affects the tongue and lips and destroys their tissues. It also leads to vomiting, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and finally, suffocation of the diaphragm muscles and death.

The casualty usually ends up dying from a period of 4: 24 hours from the time of infection. Statistics show that there are 20:40 incidents of poisoning every year between 1996 and 2006 throughout Japan and up to 6 deaths.

It is baffling that this type of fish has edible parts in Japan and Korea but the problem is that the skin and some of its organs are very toxic to humans.

The balloon fish has a distinctive technique to defend itself. With its rubber container, it can devour large amounts of water or air at once, making it bloom when necessary, doubling its original size to become a water ball difficult for predatory animals and fish to catch.

This fish is classified as poisonous fish where the second most dangerous poison is produced by the thorns that cover its body and may paralyze humans if it is touched in a non-professional way.

The characteristics of this fish are slow-moving, making it an easy prey to predators that feed on small fish, so it relies on the technique of bloating to survive on its own.

She is a durable and coherently in the slow water sensation, whether fresh, saline or severe salinity, puts her eggs along with the seven near the seabed and the trophy will swim in the exposed water for up to three months.

There are all over the world in fresh and salty tropical waters, especially on coral rocks, but sometimes they drift in temperate waters by ocean currents. Most pellets live in warm seas, and few live in rivers and other freshwater.

Some types of food, but most of it is toxic. In Japan, the fish is known as Fuju, a rare and delicious food. Some of these spherical fish are quite suitable for aquariums.

The name of the fish split is called on many fish, balloon fish, bubble fish, frog fish, sea or fish, fish, for its form and their alien station in the protection of herself from enemies.

Many thanks Dr. Dhyaa for your comprehensive comments on the subject. They have really enriched the discussions. Kind regards

Almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote. The puffer fish has the remarkable ability to expand its body extremely quickly when faced with danger, unavailing it's long poisonous spikes that cover its body. If a fisherman catches a puffer fish, they will never touch the spikes as they are highly toxic to humans and animals. Fugu chefs have to be trained for two years, during which they will eat many of the fish that they themselves prepare. And make no mistake, people do die from fugu poisoning. About five people a year make puffer fish their last meal, and many more get violently sick from it. It's not a pleasant way to go. There are more than 120 species of puffer fish which live mostly in the warm waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, with only 30 species that are living in the freshwater. Some species move from marine to brackish or fresh water during the breeding season. Puffers Can Make Great Aquarium Pets! ... However, the true freshwater puffers are a wonderful specialist fish and they are very rewarding to keep as pets, provided that their basic needs are met. Puffer fish inflate by rapidly pumping water into their stomach. Studies of the Long-spine porcupinefish (Diodon holacanthus) show it has evolved a stretchy stomach which has lost its digestive function to allow it to puff up. ... Although puffers have evolved to suck in water, if lifted out they can sometimes suck in air. Dolphins Can Get High on Puffer Fish, Says Nature Show. A new documentary on the BBC shows dolphins using pufferfish to get to a trance-like state. Adventurous eaters may get a rush out of flirting with death by eating a piece of puffer fish, but dolphins may experience something completely different.

I never knew the Puffer fish is that much deadly until I read about it. Regards

I agree with Dr. Dhyaa Allban .

Dear Dickson Adom

Please also see the following links and PDF attachments.

Article Paralytic Complications of Puffer Fish (Tetrodotoxin) Poisoning

Article Toxicity and toxin properties study of puffer fish collected...

Article Tetrodotoxin, an Extremely Potent Marine Neurotoxin: Distrib...

Article Puffer fish poisoning: A potentially life-threatening condition

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-pufferfish-dangerous-as-food

Good luck!

Thank you so much Drs Ahsan and Batool as well as Prof. Arvind for your excellent comment and very useful links and documents on the subject under discussion. Kind regards

Puffer fish can easily inflate into a ball -shape because it has no ribs.

this inflatability is not only a defense mechanism, it also a warning behavior,

top poisonous animal either have warning colors (very bright colors) such as blue-ringed octopus , lion-fish, tree-frogs etc, or show warning behavior as the characteristic sound of rattle snake,

the warning behavior alarm the predators

in other words, man should respect the wisdom that make these fish non- swallowed and delete it from the list of edible fish

the poison is distributed in muscles, blood, liver, skin, this add more difficulty to deal with this specie as edible one..

Thanks Dr. Eman for your rich comment on the puffer fish and it's health hazards when consume. I am sincerely grateful. Kind regards

Pufferfish, Tetrodon sp., is a poisonous fish, which has the deadly tetrodotoxin, in its gall bladder. However, it is considered a delicacy and its muscle, served usually in a decorated form, is consumed by humans in Japan.

These fishes are available in India. Earlier they were thrown as waste or included in the fish meal preparation. Now a days they are collected and properly processed and exported. In my view, the awareness on proper handling and processing is needed.

Puffer fish is a delicacy in Japan. A special license is required by chefs to prepare fugu. Apart from Japan, Puffer fish isn't really a mainstream food candidate, owing to its unpleasant appearance and the availability of better food candidates.

In India Puffer fish obtained in trawl nets are usually returned back to the sea.

If and when Puffer fish does become a delicacy in other parts of the world, it wouldn't hurt to follow Japanese guidelines.

Note: My Senior and former colleague from CCMB is now a scientist in Kyoto University. I had a brief discussion with him about the reality of fugue. His opinion was that it isn't as great as it was projected to be. It is only suitable for the Japanese palate.

There perhaps isn't much to worry about it in other parts of the world especially India. Our seafood preferences are starkly different and necessity for a caution on puffer fish consumption isn't really critical.

One of the fugu problems is that it is tasty, and the more poison in the organ the more taste?

There is no known antidote

There are hundreds of reported deaths “around the world” caused by a puffer fish meals..

However, some eat it and survive? How is this?

1- There are safe genera (safe means that some parts are edible, not the whole fish), like, pufferfish of the Lagocephalusand Sphoeroides genera and the related porcupinefish (Harisenbon) of the family Diodontidae, however, these genera not real safe without preparations...

2- Chiefs trained for three years to prepare these genera, part of their training is the identification (taxonomy) of these safe genera, and the safe parts in each (a list prepared by the government (institute of general health).

They also, learned some preparation (removal of most toxic materials, treatments such as curing and pickling, as poison not significantly affected by cooking.[20]

3- Recently, the researchers understand that the poison is not produced by puffer fish and the other aquatic animals from which it has been isolated; rather, bacteria such as Alteromonas, Shewanella, and Vibrio species infect or cohabit with the animal species from which TTX is isolated, and a bacterial biosynthetic pathway for its production has been rationalized.[16][17][18]

4- Scientists at Nagasaki University have reportedly succeeded in creating a non-toxic variety of torafugu by restricting the fish's diet.[45] After raising over 4,800 non-toxic fish, they are fairly certain that the fish's diet and digestive process actually produce the toxins. The non-toxic version is said to taste the same. Some skeptics[who?] say that the fish being offered as non-toxic may be of a different species, and that the toxicity has nothing to do with the diet of the pufferfish.[46]

In short, we should stick to safe genera and non- toxic Variety of aquaculture, and not generalize (extend) safety to other species of puffer fish, we speaking about a LEATHAL diet and a poison of no known antidote..

for references

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugu#cite_note-12

thanks

Well done Dr. Singh!