How Do Fish ... ?

Below are questions you might have about fish. If you have a question that you don't see below, please feel free to send us your questions.

Swim?

They flex their bodies and tail back and forth. When they do this, they expand muscles on one side of their body, and the muscles on the other side of their body relax. This is what moves them through the water!

Eat?

Fish eat by taking in food through his/her mouth, just like humans do! They eat zooplankton, insects, small adult fish, maybe even some small squid. Eating is what nourishes the fish.

Breathe?

To breathe, fish use their gills! They need a continuous supply of oxygen. Some fish have 4 pair of gills, and some sharks may have up to 7 pairs of gills!

See?

A fish’s eye is like a human’s eye. They see best up at close range.

Smell?

The opening of a fish’s nose is on their head. Their sense of smell is really important to a fish – it helps them find food and warns them of danger!

Taste?

Did you know that, like humans, fish have taste buds? Fish can distinguish between sweet, sour, salty and bitter! Taste buds are inside of the fish’s mouth, on the tongue and also on the outside of the body.

Reproduce/Spawn?

Salmon spawn in freshwater, in gravel. They die shortly after spawning. The young, (alevins) remain in gravel until their large yolk sac is almost used up, and then they eventually make their way into the ocean. (Coho spend approximately 1 year in freshwater) Their ocean life is varied:

• Pinks – may have a life of 2 years in ocean
• Cohos – 3-4 years

Mature salmon return to freshwater from the open ocean, where, finally they spawn.