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Infobox for Parents
Dear parents,
Please start by reading a good handbook on maintaining
an aquarium with your child, before actually acquiring any
fishes. The pet trade, book shops, and public libraries all
have a wide range of books for beginners. It isn't possible
to keep fishes successfully without first finding out the
basic requirements of these finned creatures and the
correct way to maintain an aquarium (setting up, water
changes, etc).
General hints
The majority of puffers are fundamentally very easy to
keep, but they do need to be kept in a fresh-, brackish-, or
salt-water, depending on the species. Puffers often can't be
kept with other fishes as they will harm them and bite off
their fins. This behavior depends on the individual, there
are also completely peaceful specimens, but you should
also assume the worst so that you are prepared for
anything.
Puffers can't be fed on dry foods. They require frozen or live
foods. Your aquarium dealer will be happy to advise you.
Because some puffers grow very large, make sure you
know all about the different species before purchasing.
Holidays
Fishes are poikilothermic ("cold-blooded") and require
much less energy than us humans. A fast of two to three
weeks won't affect them much at all and won't do them
any harm. If you are going to be away for two or three
weeks then it is always best to let the fishes go hungry, as a
neighbor or friend will usually be too generous towards
them. Under normal circumstances no fish has ever died of
starvation in the aquarium, but millions of them have died
because they were given too much food and the water
went bad.
Hazards
Puffers can bite! Their bite isn't venomous but it hurts and
there is always some risk of infection. Because the skin,
flesh, and innards of puffers contain a deadly poison, then
when they die you should never feed them to other pets or
eat them yourself!
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