Most people think they know fish pretty well. After all, we see them in aquariums, on dinner plates, and in nature documentaries.

Some sleep with their eyes wide open, others can change gender, and a few even walk on land! From tiny seahorses to massive sharks, these water creatures have skills that seem almost magical.

This blog will share fun facts about fish that might surprise you.

Ready to learn what makes fish so special? Let’s jump right in and find some of the most mind-bending fish facts you’ve probably never heard before.

The Cultural and Symbolic Side of Fish

Fish have served as powerful cultural symbols across civilizations for millennia, representing concepts like abundance, fertility, and spiritual transformation in art, religion, and daily traditions worldwide.

Mythology and Spirituality

Japanese koi symbolize strength and perseverance, while ancient cultures associated fish with fertility due to their reproductive abundance. Hindu and Buddhist traditions view fish as symbols of luck and spiritual growth.

Folklore and Religious Practices

Fish appear in fairy tales and indigenous stories as wise guides. Christianity uses fish symbols to represent faith, while many religions incorporate fish into ritual practices and dietary traditions like Catholic Lent observances.

Cultural Food Traditions

Mediterranean holiday feasts, Japanese sushi mastery, and coastal fishing festivals demonstrate how different cultures celebrate fish through cuisine and seasonal observances, often believing certain fish bring prosperity and health to families.

Fun Facts About Fish that You Should Know

Fish are some of the most diverse creatures on Earth, with over 34,000 known species displaying remarkable adaptations.

From ancient origins to unique behaviors and record-breaking abilities, these fun facts reveal the incredible world of fish biology and curiosities.

Biology & Behavior

Fish display an extraordinary range of biological adaptations and behaviors, from specialized breathing and sensory systems to complex social interactions.

1. Fish have been around for more than 500 million years.

2. There are over 34,000 known species of fish.

3. Fish breathe using gills that extract oxygen from water.

4. Some fish, like lungfish, can breathe air using lungs.

5. Fish are cold-blooded, meaning their body temperature matches their environment.

6. Many fish have excellent color vision and can see ultraviolet light.

7. The lateral line on a fish’s body detects vibrations and movement in the water.

8. Some fish, like the electric eel, can generate electricity.

9. Clownfish can change their sex from male to female.

10. Parrotfish sleep in a “bubble” of their own mucus for protection.

11. Seahorses are the only fish where males give birth.

12. The mudskipper can walk on land and breathe through its skin.

13. Some fish, like the archerfish, shoot jets of water to knock insects into the water.

14. Fish scales are made of the same substance as human fingernails, keratin.

15. The coelacanth, once thought extinct, was rediscovered in 1938.

16. Some fish, like the stonefish, are highly venomous.

17. The flashlight fish has a glowing organ under its eye.

18. The pufferfish inflates itself as a defense mechanism.

19. Cleaner wrasse fish eat parasites off larger fish.

20. Some fish can recognize themselves in mirrors.

21. The goby fish can climb waterfalls using its mouth.

22. Butterfly fish mate for life.

23. Some fish, like the Antarctic icefish, have clear blood.

24. The mimic octopus can imitate the appearance and behavior of fish.

25. Flying fish can glide above the water for up to 200 meters.

26. The anglerfish uses a bioluminescent lure to attract prey.

27. Some fish, like the killifish, can survive out of water for months.

28. The discus fish communicates with its young through skin secretions.

29. Fish can communicate using sounds, colors, and electrical signals.

30. The four-eyed fish can see above and below the water at the same time.

31. Some fish, like the salmon, migrate thousands of miles to spawn.

32. The remora attaches itself to sharks and other large animals for transportation.

33. The jawless lamprey is one of the most primitive fish alive today.

34. The stargazer fish buries itself in the sand and delivers electric shocks to prey.

35. The garfish has green bones.

36. Some fish, like the cichlid, care for their eggs and young in their mouths.

37. he mudskipper can blink its eyes like a land animal.

38. The boxfish’s body is shaped like a cube.

39. The moray eel has a second set of jaws inside its throat.

40. The batfish “walks” on the sea floor using its fins.

41. Some fish, like the cardinalfish, spit out their eggs to keep them safe.

42. The leaf scorpionfish looks exactly like a drifting leaf.

43. The mandarinfish is one of the only fish with blue pigment in its skin.

44. The fangtooth fish has the largest teeth relative to its body size.

45. The mudskipper can use its fins to climb trees.

46. Some fish, like the wrasse, sleep in mucus cocoons at night.

47. The sawfish has a long, saw-like snout used for hunting.

48. The electric catfish can deliver a shock of up to 350 volts.

49. The oarfish is the world’s longest bony fish.

50. The pearlfish lives inside the bodies of sea cucumbers.

Record-Breakers & Curiosities

From the record-breaking giants of the ocean to the most curious and unique species, fish continually amaze with their extremes.

51. The whale shark is the largest fish in the world, reaching lengths over 40 feet.

52. The dwarf pygmy goby is one of the smallest fish, measuring less than 1 cm.

53. The fastest fish is the sailfish, reaching speeds up to 68 mph (110 km/h).

54. The oldest known fish lived to be over 200 years old (the rougheye rockfish).

55. The heaviest bony fish is the ocean sunfish, weighing up to 2.5 tons.

56. The deepest-living fish ever recorded was found at over 8,000 meters deep.

57. The most poisonous fish is the stonefish.

58. The most electric fish is the electric eel, generating up to 600 volts.

59. The longest migration by a fish is made by the European eel, traveling over 5,000 km.

60. The most expensive aquarium fish is the Asian arowana, sometimes selling for over $300,000.

61. The largest school of fish ever recorded was over a billion individuals.

62. The most colorful fish is often considered to be the mandarin dragonet.

63. The most camouflaged fish is the leafy seadragon.

64. The fish with the largest mouth is the gulper eel.

65. The fish with the sharpest teeth is the payara, also known as the vampire fish.

66. The most aggressive freshwater fish is the piranha.

67. The longest-living aquarium fish was a goldfish that lived 43 years.

68. The rarest fish is the Devils Hole pupfish, with fewer than 100 individuals.

69. The most widely eaten fish in the world is the herring.

70. The most ancient living fish lineage is the sturgeon.

71. The largest freshwater fish is the beluga sturgeon, up to 20 feet long.

72. The fish with the largest eyes is the giant squid’s prey, the giant squid.

73. The most famous “singing” fish is the plainfin midshipman.

74. The only fish known to produce “milk” for its young is the discus fish.

75. The most “human-like” teeth in a fish belong to the sheepshead.

Final Thoughts

From electric eels that could power your home to fish that change gender on demand, the underwater world is full of surprises.

These incredible creatures have been perfecting their skills for millions of years, creating abilities that seem straight out of science fiction.

Better yet, support ocean conservation efforts to help protect these remarkable animals and their homes.

The fish world is truly full of surprises waiting to be uncovered!