2007-01-21 12:53:08 · 18 answers · asked by BRIAN C 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Angelfish, Puffers, Discus, Loaches, Plecos, to name a few - can all swim backwards. They dont normally go backwards cause its so much easier to turn around.
2007-01-21 16:34:26 · answer #1 · answered by welshman in texas 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lots of eels are able to swim backwards. The morays use anguilliform swimming to great effect when they dart forward out of a crevice to seize prey (invertebrates and fishes), and they can swim nearly as well backward, which is handy for entering into the shelter of a crevice or hole to avoid predators. Crayfish are also able to swim backwards and many small reef fish, such as damsel fish, on the tropical coral reefs can swim in and out of the crevices by swimming very quickly backwards and forwards.
2007-01-22 00:54:31 · answer #2 · answered by Cockneyrebel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on the mobility of their fins, some have pectoral fins that can move around almost rotating so they can maneuver backwards like puffers. I think it has to do with what type of environment they live in. Fish like salmon and trout that have to swim up river mostly would not need this ability but something like a puffer has minimal tail power and so might need to move in all directions to escape from predators or catch prey. My Jack Dempsey cichlid has pectoral fins that move all around and he has excellent backing up ability and they are used to living in Small bodies of stagnant water where moving around pieces of debris might be more useful.
2007-01-24 21:35:52 · answer #3 · answered by SP 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would force the gill open and they would drown. So they definitely don't swim backwards. If you look at your fish closely you will see what I mean. Their gills are like our lungs.
2007-01-24 15:05:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i own koi, they can sorta swim backwards but not fully they wil have to turn around one time lol and i dont know they probably are genetically unable to swim backwards!
2007-01-21 20:56:14 · answer #5 · answered by Daisy! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Strangely enough, my catfish CAN swim backwards!
2007-01-21 21:06:45 · answer #6 · answered by Chris D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have to move forwards not backwards....they are like people. Look to the future!!
2007-01-22 18:46:25 · answer #7 · answered by nicky_bronx 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to have some dwarf puffers and they could swim all directions.
2007-01-21 22:47:02 · answer #8 · answered by Guti 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the gills face the other way theyd drown. good way to kill em, pull them backwards at a speed.
2007-01-22 13:52:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They don't need to, they enjoy using their sufficient turning circle to engage in any 'going the other way' business
2007-01-21 20:58:18 · answer #10 · answered by monkeystar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋