Dolphin Tales: Dolphins and puffer fish
When male dolphins reach adolescence at about 3 years old, they will leave their mother’s pod, also called the nursing pod, and form boisterous gangs with other males. Often, the young males are so unruly that the females kick them out of the family pod. The young males are looking for excitement. Fishing, surfing and harassing females are typical behavior.
The adolescent males love to play games of catch with their fish. One of their favorite fish to play with is the Southern puffer fish found here in Southwest Florida as well as the Caribbean, Bahamas and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. The puffer fish blows itself into a defensive puffball, a shape that is more than double its original size. The perfect fish to play with, but dolphins must be extremely careful.
Puffer fish are one of the most poisonous fish in the ocean. They exude a powerful toxin and it only takes a small amount to kill a human. On the other hand, taken in small doses, the secretion seems to have a narcotic affect on dolphins.
Dolphins are careful not to swallow the fish. Instead, they hold them gently in their mouths and pass the fish back and forth. Despite the risks, passing the puffer has become a favorite dolphin pastime. The fish usually survives the strange experience and swims away when released while the dolphins “slowly get stoned.”
If you come across a puffer fish, it is recommended that they only be handled using thick gloves to avoid contact with the trace amounts of Tetrodotoxin, which is 100 times more lethal than cyanide. Keep your hands away from their mouth. They have been known to bite a finger completely off!
Capt. Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating in our local waters. As a professional charter captain she specializes in dolphin and nature tours. Visit CaptainCathy.com or call 239 994-2572.