Nusrat Jahan || Own reporter

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism,
University of Barisal

Date : 18.03.25

The taste of death: the terrible secret of fish crackers!

A delicious fish dish is served on a well-decorated dining table. But you never know—this meal could be the last meal of your life! It is a cracker fish, which with a little carelessness or wrong preparation can become a death trap.

Physical description and introduction of Patka fish

Cracker fish is one of the most poisonous fish in the world. Some species are found in almost every country. The body of this fish is round and slightly wide. The head is large and tapers abruptly towards the tail. The body of the green firecracker is slightly depressed, the upper part is green mixed with yellow, and the belly is whitish. The fish has a black spot on its lateral line and the two lateral line organs are particularly noticeable.

Its fins are rounded and gray in color. Usually 5-9 cm long, but some cracker fish can grow up to 15 cm long. The fish has an olive-green back, white flanks and belly, and scattered black spots.

One of the characteristics of cracker fish is that it can change its shape. It can inflate its body like a ball by filling its body with water, which acts as a defense mechanism. When it encounters a predator, it enlarges itself, causing the predator to become confused and hesitate to attack. Although attractive, it is a terrible fish!

Habitat and distribution

Firecrackers are found everywhere—seas, rivers, estuaries. It can survive in both fresh and salt water. In Bangladesh, it is found more in the Bay of Bengal and estuaries of various rivers. Although this fish is relatively rare in the river, it is commonly caught.

Cracker fish also have a wide distribution in other countries of the world, especially in the coastal areas of China, Japan, Philippines and Mexico. They usually like to move in flocks and stay in large numbers in certain areas. Amphibians can live quite comfortably in the environment.

Scientific classification

Firecrackers belong to the order Chordata, an important group of vertebrates. It is a member of the family Tetraodontidae, class Tetraodontiformes, class Actinopterygii. Some of its marine relatives include the balloon fish. Cracker fish have different scientific names:

Tetrodon patoco, Chelonodon patoca, Tetrodon desutidens, Tetrodon kappa Also, the scientific name of the genus Tepa fish is Tetraodon cutcutia. Historically, this fish was also described as a Gangetic aquatic animal.

Presence of poison in cracker fish

The body of firecracker fish contains a poison called Tetrodotoxin (Tetrodotoxin or TTX), which is deadly. Most of the poison is in the skin, liver and ovaries of the fish. It is about 1,200 times more toxic than potassium cyanide!

A single cracker fish poison can kill 30 people. Firecracker fish from both saltwater and freshwater environments carry the same amount of toxins.

Studies have shown that the toxicity level of cracker fish varies according to the season. Especially during the rainy season—which is their breeding season—the fish become most poisonous.

Many people have the misconception that cooking destroys the poison of cracker fish. But this is completely wrong! Although the chemical structure of the poison changes in extreme heat, its lethality remains intact.

Effect of cracker fish poisoning on human body:

Fish cracker poisoning can be terrible for the human body. Its effect is as follows:

Initial symptoms: Lips and tongue become numb, loss of taste.

Next steps: Dizziness, vomiting, paralysis, drop in blood pressure.

Severe conditions: Muscles become numb, heart beats irregularly, breathing stops, and eventually death. This poisoning is usually fatal within 24 hours. However, with prompt treatment, there is a chance of survival.

Many people have died due to poisoning by eating cracker fish in various countries including Bangladesh. In a recent incident in Kawkhali upazila of Bangladesh, 5 members of a family became seriously ill after eating cracker fish and a child member died.

Research on this poison began in Japan about 200 years ago. There, scientists have found various poisonous species of cracker fish and have done extensive research to determine the source of this poison.

Awareness and Dos for Cracker Fish: 

Eating cracker fish is very dangerous. It is important to create public awareness in this regard, especially among fishermen.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES:

Avoid eating unfamiliar fish. Conducting campaign on awareness and toxicity of cracker fish among fishermen. Stop selling this fish in the market. Strict surveillance by the government, so that it is not used as food.

Conclusion

Many people still don’t know about the dangers of cracker fish. Due to lack of awareness especially among the fishermen, this fish is sold in the market and common people also buy it carelessly. As a result, every year many people suffer from this poisoning and lose their lives.

There is a need to spread awareness about the dangers of this fish. These fatal accidents can be prevented by increasing public awareness. In some countries of the world, specially trained chefs remove the poison from patka fish and serve it as food. To eat this food, known as ‘Fugu’ in Japan, you have to go to a specially licensed restaurant. But in countries like Bangladesh where there are no methods and skilled manpower to remove the poison, its consumption should be completely banned. Governments and health agencies should impose strict restrictions on the sale and consumption of crackers and warn the public. It is only through awareness that one can be saved from the deadly claws of this deadly fish.