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What are distinguishing characteristics of saltwater and freshwater fish?
shannonshambles asked:
What I’m trying to say is, is there a visible difference between the two. Do saltwater fish have different fins for navigating in different currents or something like that?
What I’m trying to say is, is there a visible difference between the two. Do saltwater fish have different fins for navigating in different currents or something like that?
The reason being, on my homework there’s a picture of a fish and I’m supposed to determine what environment it lives in.
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3. June 2008 at 11:08 am :
Fish are so diverse, there’s no way to tell, unless you know the species or you are able to look it up after seeing the picture. Maybe they want you to tell if it swims at the surface, bottom, or middle of the tank. That you can usually tell by shape.
6. June 2008 at 6:25 pm :
There’s really no way to tell by just looking. In general, saltwater fish are more colorful to blend in with their surroundings on a reef, but not all saltwater fish live on reefs - ones from deeper water where there’s limited light tend to be shades of black, gray, and white, plus there are a few freshwater fish (darters, killifish, tetras, and barbs) which can be quite colorful.
Also look at patterns - ones with up and down stripes may live in areas with aquatic plants and the stripes resemble the vegetation for camouflage.
8. June 2008 at 2:14 am :
No. Freshwater and saltwater fish are constructed in much the same way. There’s no outwardly visible anatomical differences.
Saltwater fish generally have much brighter and more vivid colors. They move very differently, much more fluid or something. Freshwater fish tend to have very pronounced scales and are usually more drab in color. Their colors are usually irridescent green or red. They usually don’t get as big either.
It’s hard to put into words, I’m sure I could guess right on most fish just by looking at the pictures though.
African Cichlids and Discus are considered the most colorful large freshwater fish for the aquarium:
Saltwater fish just have a very different “feel” to them.:&tbnh=73&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyellow%2Bjack%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4TSHB_enUS262US263%26sa%3DN