Tag Archives: Fish Facts

Have you ever wondered why fish are so colorful, especially reef fish?

admin    December 1, 2018   CATEGORY: Fish Facts ,Reef Aquariums

Things are Not Always as They Seem: Theories about Why Fish are So Colorful

Have you ever wondered where fish get their color, both individually and by breed? No one knows with 100 percent certainty how fish obtain their color nor why fish are so colorful, but there are a few theories.

One animal that is similar to a fish in terms of the variety of color is a snake. It’s easy to see why snakes are so colorful; it’s a means of survival by blending into the grass, dirt, sand, and weeds. The need to blend into the environment is one obvious theory regarding the survival of fish as well. According to researchers, however, the reasons why fish are so colorful is probably much deeper than we know.

Possible Reasons Why Fish are So Colorful

In addition to using their color to hide from predators by camouflaging with the objects around them, there are several other theories and facts about why each fish has a variety of markings and each breed is different than the other.

Based on the findings of one scientist, Gil Rosenthal, the fact that they live underwater rather than on land has a lot to do with it. Things look much different underwater. It’s darker, but light comes from a variety of sources, and that light isn’t always the same. Therefore, fish need the various markings in order to:
● Identify each other underwater.
● Identify predators.
● Identify competitors within the same breed.

Have you ever wondered why fish are so colorful, like this lionfish is?Their vivid colors also tend to give them a fluorescent tone, which possibly allows allies to see them better.

Because fish live in different areas of the water, be it near the surface or deep in the coral reefs, they need to adapt to their environment, which is an additional theory about why fish are so colorful.

Another issue that factors into the equation is that humans can’t tell what fish see; truly, that would be almost impossible unless you were seeing through their eyes while they were still alive. The fish, therefore, might not even know how beautiful they are, but have their own methods of identifying each other that humans don’t quite understand.

It’s also possible that the spotted, multi-colored fish that we see looks like one plain, solid colored animal to another fish from a distance. It could be nature’s way of allowing fish to be identified by friends but hidden from foes.

Up-Close Admiration

When it comes to us as pet fish owners and aquarium enthusiasts, we simply reap the benefits that nature gives us. This is especially true for owners of reef aquariums, as fish that live deep in natural waters tend to have the most beautiful markings.

If you are thinking of adding new livestock to your existing aquarium or are thinking of having a fish tank installed, contact us. We’ll help you identify the most ideal, beautiful livestock to suit your aquarium environment.

 

TAGS: Fish Facts, Reef Aquarium, Why Fish are Colorful,

Flake foods are easy options for aquarium owners.

admin    September 19, 2018   CATEGORY: Fish Facts

19 Simple Fun Facts about Fish and Aquarium Living

Think you know a lot about those fish in your aquarium and fish in the wild? Because there are so many species of fish and their characteristics vary so widely, there’s a good chance there are a whole lot of fun facts about fish and aquarium living that you’re missing.

Consider these fun facts about fish for starters:

1. Goldfish have teeth at the back of their throats that they use to grind food.

2. Remember what you learned about Pavlov’s classical conditioning research? It seems to apply to fish too, as some can associate certain sounds with feeding time.

3. Playing dead by floating at the top of a tank can be a smart way for some fish to protect themselves.

4. Fish were here before the dinosaurs.

5. There are about 30,000 species of fish.

Fun Facts about Fish and Aquarium Living: There are about 30,000 species of fish.

6. The world’s smallest fish, the Paedocypris progenetica, is less than one-third of an inch. This translucent fish looks like larva and is a member of the carp family. The second smallest is the Philippine goby, which is about as long as your pinky fingernail.

7. Although they feel pain and have instincts that protect them, we don’t know if fish have true emotion such as happiness. Many people believe that they don’t, but it’s possible that we haven’t learned to pick up on the cues that indicate their emotions. A human who is happy, for example, might smile, and one who is shocked might open his eyes widely. The same is not true for fish, but they might have their own signs.

8. A clownfish weighs about 9 ounces.

Here are some fun facts about fish, such as that the average clownfish weighs 9 ounces.

9. Fish have taste buds on their tongue, lips, and body. A large catfish can have 175,000 taste buds. A human, in comparison, has about 10,000.

10. The fish in the middle of a school is the school’s leader.

11. A recent study showed that there’s a possibility aquarium fish recognize familiar faces. In this study, archerfish were able to “spit” at a picture of one particular face from 44 different pictures with an accuracy of more than 80%.

12. Vision varies depending on the needs of certain fish. Some are colorblind, some have limited light cues, and others can see color clearly and distinctly.

13. A male neon tetra tends to be slender while the female is plumper, which is common for many breeds of fish.

14. There are more than 1,300 types of cichlids.

Fun Facts about Fish and Aquarium Living: Some fish, such as cichlids, are mouth breeders.

15. Some fish, including many cichlids, are mouth breeders, meaning that the parent carries the eggs in their mouth until they are hatched.

16. It is said that male Siamese fighting fish were bred for aggression before the 19th century.

Fun Facts about Fish and Aquarium Living: Siamese fighting fish were likely bred for aggression prior to the 19th century.

17. There are more than 1,000 species of sharks.

18. Fishes’ ability to protrude their jaws allows them to get that prey that would otherwise not be within reach.

19. Sailfish are considered the fastest fish in the ocean. They can swim at a speed of about 70 mph.

The world under the water is truly amazing. You can learn new fun facts about fish every day based on the species, its location, its normal characteristics, and so much more.

In fact, you’ve probably heard the saying that only a small percentage of the ocean has been discovered. What will we find next?

 

See our blog page to read more about aquariums, aquarium maintenance, and fish facts.

TAGS: Archerfish, Cichlid, Clownfish, Fish Facts, Fish Trivia, Philippine Goby, Sailfish, Siamese Fighting Fish,