ah out of the mouths of babes.i was showing my neighbors child my new fish and he posed this question didnt know how to answer.i know that water for them is like air to us.so when they come up for air is that thier way of taking a drink.mmmmm or due they get it from food they must be able to get thirsty i would think
2007-09-22 05:08:00 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
thought id mention the child was two so i would like the scientific explanation for me but a simple one for him to understand keep in mind this is an inquisitive kid in the question stage of life.
2007-09-22 05:23:28 · update #1
How to explain this in terms a child could understand! Freshwater fish don't get thirsty because they live in water. Every time they open their mouths it's like taking a drink.
It's different for saltwater fish. Just like when people eat salty foods, they get thirsty, the same happens to fish that like in water with a lot of salt in it. So they need to "drink" more water.
Of course, all s/he's looking for is probably a yes or no.
The real explanation has to do with regulating salt and fluid balance within the body (called osmoregulation). The fish that take is freshwater has little salt in the water and a higher amount within their cells, so they also have the problem of getting rid of water from their bodies quickly - otherise it will be drawn into their cells by diffusion to equalize the concentration of salt to water. This would cause the fish to "bloat" and swell up like a balloon. This actually happens in a condition called dropsy which can be fatal to the fish.
Saltwater fish have more salt outside their cells, so unless they take in water, the water will be pulled out of their body, causing them to die of dehydration (the same reason people can't drink seawater if shipwrecked). A bit of a "simplified" explanation still, but you get the idea.
2007-09-22 05:33:49 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, water is consistantly being absorbed by way of membranes on their epidermis that the sensation of being thirsty is none existant. Feeling thirsty is a few thing that effects from dehydration some thing that fish might have not have been given any difficulty with.
2016-10-09 15:49:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Freshwater fish do not actively drink water, but absorb the water through their skin and gills. On the other hand, saltwater fish do actively drink sea water. Their gills process the water and take out the salt.
The salmon is an interesting example of a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water, and consequently, they have the characteristics of both types of fish. Salmon are born in fresh water, and migrate to the ocean. While living in the ocean, they drink saltwater by opening their mouth; their gills then rid their bodies of the salt and minerals. When the salmon enters freshwater streams to spawn, they stop drinking the water and instead absorb it through osmosis (osmosis means that the water passes through the cells of the fish's skin into its body).
2007-09-22 05:17:50 · answer #3 · answered by Sqynt 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The answer is no. Fish don't get thirsty because they are surrounded by water. You dont need to drink water to actually relieve your thirst. You can just have it absorbed into you. Plus when fish breathe they get some water and some seeps through the gills. To explain in a less specific way for children. It can be absorbed.
2007-09-22 10:29:21 · answer #4 · answered by Zytrax 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Freshwater fish do not get "thirsty", but saltwater fish do. Freshwater fish get their water through their scales (osmosis). In saltwater, however, the concentration of salt oustisde of the fish's body (in the water) makes "scale drinking" (osmosis) impossible, so saltwater fish actually have to drink by sucking water in their mouths.
Soop Nazi
2007-09-22 08:17:03 · answer #5 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude air is air they *find* the oxygen in water so there not breathing water. They just need to be wet.
2007-09-22 05:12:52 · answer #6 · answered by rhcp3 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
fishes are not thirsty. beacause, they live in water and they are going up to water to breath only.
2007-09-22 05:13:24 · answer #7 · answered by Faye 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They get real thirsty when you take them out of water.......seems they die pretty quickly......LOL
2007-09-22 05:17:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the answer would bed no, cause they would die from lack of oxygenation before they had a chance to dehydrate
2007-09-22 05:13:14 · answer #9 · answered by andy jackson 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope - they obviously get to drink all the time.
2007-09-22 05:16:15 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋