News from Tynemouth
Star treatment as rugby-sized puffer fish gets flying visit from falcons
A giant starry puffer fish at
Geoff, 24, was invited down to hand feed the fish after keepers at the award-winning wildlife attraction noted its uncanny similarity in size and shape to a rugby ball.
The starry puffer fish, who's been nicknamed Twinkle, was donated by a member of the public after it outgrew its original tank. Fully grown specimens can reach lengths in excess of a metre.
Blue Reef's Zahra d'Aronville said: "Twinkle is a fantastic specimen and extremely tame.
"He came to us after outgrowing his old tank and he's now made himself at home in our Tropical Marine display. Despite appearances he's actually very well mannered and will happily hand feed from us.
"We're delighted Geoff was able to come down from the Falcons to pay us a visit and we're hoping the club will adopt him as their marine mascot although I'm not sure how many games he'll actually be able to get to see.
"And although he bears a striking resemblance to a rugby ball we definitely won't be allowing him to join in any training sessions!" she added.
Like all puffer fish Twinkle has the ability, when threatened or alarmed, to inflate or "puff up" his body to almost twice its normal size. This discourages others from trying to eat it. Parts of the flesh are also poisonous if eaten.
In the wild starry puffers will eat a variety of food including sponges, corals and crustaceans.
At the aquarium Twinkle's diet includes mussels, cockles and shrimp.
