Pete the Puffer Fish Tag

Pete's Mission is to go to Japan where Puffer Fish is a delicacy - and since Pete is a travel bug - he won't meet that fate.  

Puffer Fish - known as Fugu in Japanese, contain a deadly poison called Tetrodotoxin.  This toxin is NOT destroyed by cooking or freezing. In the United States, the FDA restricts the importation of puffer fish products and prohibits personal importation. While some species of puffer fish, like the Norther Puffer, are non-toxic, others, like the Tiger Puffer (torafugu), are considered a delicacy in Japan, despite the risk.

Tetrodotoxin is highly potent and can cause paralysis and death if ingested.

Licensed Fugu chefs undergo 3 years of intensive training to learn how to safely remove the toxic parts of the fish.

Pufferfish  are pretty amazing little creatures.  Did you know that male Pufferfish create intricate circular designs in the sand to attract mates? These designs are not just artistic displays; they serve as nests where females lay  their eggs.  The males decorate the ridges of these designs with shells and coral fragments.

The male pufferfish expends a considerable effort building these circular structures, a process that can take over a week.

The female pufferfish evaluates the male's creation and choose whether or not to lay her eggs in the nest, based on the intricacy  and the quality of the sand in the center.

Look how cute Pete the Puffer Fish is... He just wants to travel around with you and have his picture taken.  And maybe he can meet some other fish along the way.

Remember - Pete isn't a real puffer fish, so don't be afraid of him - he isn't poisonous!  And since Pete is traveling with his own water, it's ok for him to be out of the water for extended periods of time.