All things need water to live, do fish get it by drinking or when they obtain the oxygen in the water? (I think fish obtain oxygen from the water through the gills)
2006-09-28 08:05:33 · 16 answers · asked by dragon_fan1 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Most fish do drink plenty of water, some continuously. Some fish absorb water through their skin and/or gills, and may excrete water that way, too. Apparently, fish need to maintain a fairly high concentration of salt, so how a fish deals with this need depends on whether it is a saltwater or freshwater fish. Most saltwater fish get enough or too much salt, and so preventing water loss is their concern. Freshwater fish are short on salt, and since water dilutes sodium, they have many mechanisms for excreting water. It is interesting to note that kidneys process water for excretion, so some saltwater fish have dysfunctional kidneys or are missing kidneys to help prevent water loss.
A
2006-09-28 11:47:25 · answer #1 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I answered a similar question a little while ago. I don't think the facts have changed since then:-
Yes and no. Freshwater fish which are denser than their environment will absorb water through their skin via osmosis and therfore do not need to drink to maintain hydration. They do however, expell great amounts of very weak urine.
Marine or saltwater fish have the reverse problem. Because their mass is lighter than that of seawater, their bodies constantly lose moisture. To compensate, the fish will drink heavily, almost continually. It will also pass very small amounts of strong urine, filled with excess salts and minerals that the fish does not need and which can't be expelled through osmosis.
2006-09-28 17:18:21 · answer #2 · answered by fruitfly 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's probably both, because they swim with their mouths open so often. They do get the oxygen through their gills, but organic life is largley based on water, so I'm sure they need to take in at least as much as they excrete...
2006-09-28 15:10:40 · answer #3 · answered by Beardog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fresh water fish tend to gain water in through the gills, and have to be constantly excreting it. Salt water fish lose water through the gills, and must constantly drink water, and excrete salt.
2006-09-28 17:19:54 · answer #4 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes you are right. fish get water and oxygen through there gills.
2006-09-28 15:06:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, fish need to drink water...but just as you and I absorb water through our skin (yes even if you think drinking shower water is gross, you are taking it in through your pores anyway), so do fish absorb water through their scales. They do drink water the way you think, through their mouths, but don't need to all that often because they maintain a balance through absorption.
2006-09-28 15:15:22 · answer #6 · answered by vargasmicus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FISH are about 75% water they must have opened their mouth some time.
2006-09-28 15:07:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question................I don't think they drink water i just think they swim in it and need the oxygen to breathe
2006-09-28 15:09:30 · answer #8 · answered by Miss.PatrickWhite_onFiYa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They get it through their gills.
2006-09-28 15:18:45 · answer #9 · answered by redneckgirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds right
2006-09-28 15:07:33 · answer #10 · answered by ch_jakal_lv 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋