Do fish drink?

paramedicpete · #1 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 11:18 PM

On talking with my colleague at work I remarked I used to" drink like a fish",she replied fish don't drink!

I was unable to provide a proper response so the question is

Do fish drink and if they do How?

Pete

Mrtrout · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 11:20 PM

Good one Pete I havn't a clue mate, but I bet you get a few answers to this one.

murtol · #3 (**permalink**) 07-11-2008, 11:47 PM

They do, as far as I know, freshwater fish absorb water through the skin, while saltwater ones drink through their mouths and process the water with their gills.
I wonder how dolphins and whales drink, having no gills to take the salt out of the water?

ickypimp · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 12:52 AM

fish do drink, tho the amount depends upon the osmotic pressure exerted by the environment the live in, a fresh water fish lies in a hyposmotic environment, the concentration of ions in the body is greater than that of the environment, concequently they take on lots of water via osmosis was it is normal for water to move across permeable membranes to create osmotic equilibrium, the produce vast quantities of dilute urine.

the inverse is true of marine fish, the ionic concentration in the fish is lower thsn the surrounding environment this time the opposite happens and the fish would dehydrate as water woul mve out of the cells to attemt create equillibrium betwwn cells and enviromental ion concs.... marine fish drink alot and produce small quantites of conc urine to rid themselves of the excess ions absorbed from drinking sea water

paramedicpete · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ickypimp

fish do drink, tho the amount depends upon the osmotic pressure exerted by the environment the live in, a fresh water fish lies in a hyposmotic environment, the concentration of ions in the body is greater than that of the environment, concequently they take on lots of water via osmosis was it is normal for water to move across permeable membranes to create osmotic equilibrium, the produce vast quantities of dilute urine.

the inverse is true of marine fish, the ionic concentration in the fish is lower thsn the surrounding environment this time the opposite happens and the fish would dehydrate as water woul mve out of the cells to attemt create equillibrium betwwn cells and enviromental ion concs.... marine fish drink alot and produce small quantites of conc urine to rid themselves of the excess ions absorbed from drinking sea water

thanks yes I now see how after google search so salt water fish do drink water

Pete

boyzie · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ickypimp

fish do drink, tho the amount depends upon the osmotic pressure exerted by the environment the live in, a fresh water fish lies in a hyposmotic environment, the concentration of ions in the body is greater than that of the environment, concequently they take on lots of water via osmosis was it is normal for water to move across permeable membranes to create osmotic equilibrium, the produce vast quantities of dilute urine.

the inverse is true of marine fish, the ionic concentration in the fish is lower thsn the surrounding environment this time the opposite happens and the fish would dehydrate as water woul mve out of the cells to attemt create equillibrium betwwn cells and enviromental ion concs.... marine fish drink alot and produce small quantites of conc urine to rid themselves of the excess ions absorbed from drinking sea water

Thus showing how amazing salmon and trout are, able to move between fresh and saltwater.

On my marine biology course a lad got a right telling of for exploding star fish in freshwater, he always was a prat.

Ben · #7 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 09:04 AM

Well seen the season's over

warrenslaney · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ickypimp

fish do drink, tho the amount depends upon the osmotic pressure exerted by the environment the live in, a fresh water fish lies in a hyposmotic environment, the concentration of ions in the body is greater than that of the environment, concequently they take on lots of water via osmosis was it is normal for water to move across permeable membranes to create osmotic equilibrium, the produce vast quantities of dilute urine.

the inverse is true of marine fish, the ionic concentration in the fish is lower thsn the surrounding environment this time the opposite happens and the fish would dehydrate as water woul mve out of the cells to attemt create equillibrium betwwn cells and enviromental ion concs.... marine fish drink alot and produce small quantites of conc urine to rid themselves of the excess ions absorbed from drinking sea water

Osmo-regulation explained beautifully.

Reservoirdog · #9 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ickypimp

fish do drink, tho the amount depends upon the osmotic pressure exerted by the environment the live in, a fresh water fish lies in a hyposmotic environment, the concentration of ions in the body is greater than that of the environment, concequently they take on lots of water via osmosis was it is normal for water to move across permeable membranes to create osmotic equilibrium, the produce vast quantities of dilute urine.

the inverse is true of marine fish, the ionic concentration in the fish is lower thsn the surrounding environment this time the opposite happens and the fish would dehydrate as water woul mve out of the cells to attemt create equillibrium betwwn cells and enviromental ion concs.... marine fish drink alot and produce small quantites of conc urine to rid themselves of the excess ions absorbed from drinking sea water

I can imagine,in a pub, having had a few pints and maybe a couple of wee ones and asking "does a fish drink"? and getting that answer.

ickypimp · #10 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warrenslaney

Osmo-regulation explained beautifully.

all that time at university wasnt wasted then

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