Fishes jumping out of water is not a common sight, but when somebody sees it, it may at first look quite impressive. Of course, we might think they are jumping out of the water for fun or catching something, but there could be numerous reasons that may not come into our logic arena. So, why do fish jump out of the water? Read on to know the reasons.
Apart from swimming, fishes are also known to glide, jump or squiggle. In addition, a fish is usually known to contort its muscular body and use its fins in several imaginative ways. However, there is no exact answer to the question, “why do fish jump out of the water?” But here are a few reasons why fishes jump out of water.
1. To dodge the predators.
There is a basic concept of predators among all living creatures. The predator has a nature of looking out for his prey. The bigger fish often tend to eat the smaller ones. All creators have this basic instinct to save themselves from predators. It would be a common concept in any food chain.
The whole food chain will break down if the prey stops protecting its life. As fishes are a vital part of a marine life food chain, the race between the predators and the prey continues. As a fish makes every effort to protect itself from predators, most attacks are not always long-distance chases. They are mostly sudden attacks. With its natural reflexes, a fish tries to protect itself.
Sometimes when they see a predator, they may form a group and try to jump out of the water as a group strategy. This helps in ultimately enhancing their chances of being safe and secure.
2. To get food
Food is a prime motivator for every creator, with fish no exception. The food, in this case, will not be inside the water but may be hanging in the air just above the water’s surface. As low-flying flies are an easy target for them, they sometimes jump out of the water to catch their prey.
3. External parasites or debugging
Some species of fish may jump out of the water for no specific reason. However, they do it from time to time. Some Biologists believe that fishes often do it to get rid of external parasites. As a fish cannot get rid of a parasite by just using its fins, as a resort, they jump out of the water out of desperation.
4. Decreasing oxygen levels
The instinct to survive can make a fish do anything. If the environment starts deteriorating, they want to leap out of something. Though some fishes have evolved for better living conditions, they may look for breathing space. Sharp tooth catfish has better evolved her lungs to breathe outside water.
5. Procreation
Some species of fish may attempt to do amazing jumps. For example, Coho and Sockeye species can pass the impossible waterfalls because of their innate desire to procreate. Salmons are also known for their incredible aerobatics techniques.
Wrapping Up
You can have several reasons to validate why fishes jump out of water. Like humans, fish also change their behavior or techniques according to circumstances. So there can be multiple reasons for spotting a fish jumping out of the water.