What do wild fish do in the winter they don’t have heaters? Another crazy day thinking about fish and what they get up to. I’m sure you have heard that fish hibernate in the winter I know I’ve heard this many times over the years.
Do fish hibernate? Let’s explore and find out. Tropical fish it would seem have no need to hibernate as it’s well warm enough all year round. Tropical fish in our tanks at home will slow down their metabolism if the temperature drops sharply. Does this mean they are able to hibernate?
What about coldwater fish those fish we keep outside in ponds that have no heaters do they hibernate?
Do Fish Hibernate
Do fish hibernate no they are unable to regulate body temperature or metabolism. Fish enter a state called torpor where the body slows down allowing them to deal with the surrounding temperature.
Why Fish Cant Hibernate
Fish are ectotherms which means they are unable to regulate their own bodies’ temperature. Or indeed their metabolic temperature. Fish don’t use energy to keep warm or burn heat off their dependence on the outside environment.
The warmer the water the warmer the fish and vice versa. True hibernation means the body almost shuts down. Hart rate is reduced by some 98% metabolism by another 99% and the body temperature will drop. Only internal organs will be warmed.
Hibernation in mammals Have A Read
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/01.CIR.24.2.434
Also, this is a biological process and lasts for a certain time like a comma. You cant be woken until it’s time to get up. Torpor is more temporary and can be done more often in times of need.
What Is Torpor
Torpor is a more convenient way for fish to deal with the harshness of winter and cold conditions. When they enter this state the body slows down so they need less or no food they use less energy and less oxygen. Torpor is more of a temporary measure the fish is still able to feed on algae or move around and then rest again.
Giving the fish the ability to shift in and out of this state of torpor as it’s known. I can see how hibernation and torpor can be used interchangeably. Just think of one as deep sleep or semi-coma and the other as lighter sleep.
Some Related Topics From The Do Fish Section
Do Fish Feel Pain How We Know A Fish Is In Pain
Do Fish Sleep Can We Tell If Fish Are Sleeping
do fish lose scales? lets investigate
Hope you enjoy the extra reading
How Fish Enter This Dormant State
Once winter rolls around and the outside temperature starts to drop. This is usually at around 10 degrees C or 50 degrees F. So once below these temperatures, the fish will automatically start to slow down.
The brain waves will slow the metabolism and the respiratory rate and heart will also slow down. This allows the fish to use less energy and oxygen.
Believe it or not, the fish will stay in situ within the usual water column. They don’t try to reach the surface or stay anchored to the bottom. They are in a form of suspended animation some say laying dormant.
The thing is the fish will still be swimming just really slowly with its fins tucked in using virtually no energy. They may also eat some algae but it’s not necessary as they can go weeks in this state with no food.
Do We Need To Do Anything While Our Fish Are Hyper Sleeping ( Torpor )
There are a few things we can do yes. We can get any debris out just before winter comes. Once the water starts to freeze over we need to make a decent size hole to keep the gas exchange happening and make sure the filter is working properly. As we still need well-oxygenated water flowing around the pond.
Wild Fish Hibernation
Fish in the wild have been known to migrate to warmer waters rather than enter into a state of torpor. Another way for fish to survive the winter months is to bury themselves in mud which warms the fish up enough to deal with the colder conditions.
Heating Our Ponds Equals No Need For Hibernation
Yes, indeed we can heat our ponds in the winter months to keep the waters above 10 degrees C 50 degrees F. A good rule of thumb is to keep the pond at a nice 15.5 degrees C or around 60 degrees F.
This should be perfect and allow the fish to go all year round without the need for any resting period.
What Happens When A Fish Awakes From Its Slumber
All things being equal we don’t need to do anything just be ready when the weather changes and the water begins to warm up. As the fish gets its metabolism back and things start going back to normal the fish will definitely be hungry so have some food on hand ready.
Do Fish Hibernate Conclusion
As we have seen it’s more of a terminology thing or even biology. As hibernation is for animals or endotherms or mammals as they can regulate their own bodies and warm organs etc. Fish however are considered cold-blooded and can’t regulate their own bodies.
Fish rely on the surrounding environment if the water is warm they will be warmer if it’s cold then hence the fish will be colder. So it’s not classed as hibernation it’s a form of hypersleep a slumber of sorts known as torpor.
A form of mini hibernation but technically not as they are still able to move. Just really slowly and without using much energy as everything slows down to allow the fish to save energy.
So do fish hibernate? No, they go into a state of rest called torpor. Hope you enjoyed the read and feel free to look around the site for more great articles.
I’ll leave you with some more from the do fish-related topics
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