Do fish pee? This is a very common question beginner fish keepers often ask. The question is strange, but very interesting. And you should know the answer whether you are a beginner or experienced fish keeper. But before discussing more about whether do fish pee or not, let us first explain what is pee?
What Is Pee?
Pee is also called urine. It is the waste that comes from the body after it uses the food and water. In most cases, the body takes the most useful parts of food and drinks, and the things it doesn’t need are turned into pee (like extra water and waste). Humans and animals pee to get rid of these waste, and thus they keep their bodies healthy.
Do Fish Have Kidneys?
To understand whether do fish pee or not, we need to know how their bodies work. Fish have kidneys, just like humans and other animals. Kidneys are organs in the body that help to filter out waste. Kidneys also help to balance water and salt in the body. The kidneys of fish help the fish to filter out waste from their body. So, how do fish pee? Wait, we are now discussing about this.
How Do Fish Pee?
Fish do pee. But the way they do it is different from land animals. The exact way they pee depends on the type of water they live in.
Freshwater Fish: The fish species which live in freshwater environment are called freshwater fish. These types of fish live in rivers, lakes, and streams where the water has very little salt. As salt is very less in this water than the inside of the fish bodies, so the freshwater fish need to keep salt inside them. And they do this by drinking very little water, and they pee a lot. Freshwater fish actually pee a lot to get rid of the extra water in their bodies. And their pee is mostly water with only a little waste. This helps them to keep the right balance of salt inside their bodies.
Saltwater Fish: The fish species living in oceans and seas are called saltwater fish. Water of oceans and sea has a lot of salt, and the fish living there have to make sure that they don’t get too much salt inside their bodies. They drink a lot of seawater to get the water they need, but they don’t want too much salt. So, they pee too. And the saltwater fish pee to get rid of the extra salt and other waste in their bodies. Their pee is a little different from the pee of freshwater fish. Because pee of saltwater fish has more salt and other things that the fish don’t need. And this process help them to keep their salt levels balanced and stay healthy.
Why Do Fish Pee?
Fish typically pee for several reasons. Here we are trying to list some of these reasons.
To Get Rid of Waste: Just like humans and other animals, fish need to get rid of waste that their body don’t need. And this waste is typically made from the food and water they take in.
To Stay Balanced: The bodies of fish need to stay balanced with the right amount of water and salt. And pee helps them to get rid of extra water or salt (depending upon the type of fish and the water they live in).
To Stay Healthy: As the fish can get rid of harmful substances in their bodies through peeking, so this process helps them to stay healthy and active and to ensure that their body is working properly.
Is Fish Pee Dangerous To Humans And Other Pets?
No. Fish pee is instantly diluted and it is hundred percent safe if you are swimming in the area where the fish is present.
Do Fish Pee Through Their Skin?
No, definitely not. Just like humans, the fish have kidneys which are responsible for filtering waste and producing pee. The kidneys remove waste from the fish’s body, and this waste is released as pee or urine.
Whey Do Fish Pee When Caught?
The fish might pee when they caught for many reasons. It can experience stress and fear when it is caught, and this can cause its body to react in different ways, including releasing urine. In most cases, the fish might pee as a reaction to the sudden change in its environment, which is something fish are not used to.
When a fish is pulled out of the water, its body is under pressure. The fish might have a full bladder or express water in its body, and as it struggles, it could expel its pee. When a fish is taken out of its natural environment, it can go into shock. And this sudden change can make the fish release urine as part of its body’s natural reaction to the stress it is experiencing.
Just like humans and other animals, fish need to get rid of waste from their bodies to stay healthy. And releasing pee helps them to balance the amount of water and salt inside their bodies. Freshwater fish pee a lot because they have to get rid of the extra water in their bodies. Fish have special glands in their gills that help them get rid of sat and other waste, especially saltwater. Hope this guide has helped you. Good luck and may God bless you!
