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| Since our water temperature has dropped to 50oF some of the larger sarasa rise higher in the water where the sun hits the pool and drop lower in the water when there is shade. I remember something from grade school about sunlight and vitamin D and got the silly idea to wonder if the fish seed the sunlight for vitamins. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by sleeplessinftwayne z4-5 IND (My Page) on Wed, Oct 10, 12 at 15:53
| That is an interesting question. The thought came that maybe fish either don't need it or they get it some way other than the sun since there are many, many fish that live at depths that never get the slightest hint of light, let alone sunlight. It also would seem that since UV is what stimulates vitamin D production and UV doesn't penetrate water very far it wouldn't benefit any but the surface fish. That made me wonder just why we need that vitamin in particular. So I went surfing. There are a number of hits on the subject "do fish need vitamin D". There are some references to aquariums and glass cutting down UV that made me determine I might get some benefit from additional Vitamin D in my own diet (I have a medical condition that requires me to get a lot of light)and digressions about eating fish but there were interesting articles about the lack of a need for Vitamin D and C in fish. It seems if the water is rich in Calcium and Phosphates, they don't need Vitamin D. One short but informative site reads: "Is vitamin D redundant in an aquatic habitat? I have to conclude your fish are not trying to get sunlight for vitamin D and while I guess it is possible there are other reasons, the most likely are that they like the warmth or the light makes them feel more lively. |
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| I have definitely noticed my goldfish moving to the sunny spots in spring or late fall when the water is cold. It is probably for warmth. |
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- Posted by kashka_kat z4 WI (My Page) on Fri, Oct 12, 12 at 17:46
| Same here. And when it's broiling hot in July and August, they seem to go in the shade or deep down to the bottom more. So that to would suggest that they are responding to the temperature, They probably feel better at a good moderate temp neither too hot or too cold. Seems like all cold blooded animals do that - like alligators sunning on logs in the bayous, snakes sunning on rocks in the desert, etc. |
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- Posted by albert_135 Sunset 2 or 3 (My Page) on Mon, Dec 3, 12 at 16:06
| Again I have an observation that causes me to speculate or conjecture the some fish seek light sometimes. We a couple of Black Moors in an aquarium. The sun is low enough that the sunlight through the window will hit the lower front corner of the aquarium for an hour or so each afternoon. When it is quiet in the house and the sunlight hits the aquarium the fish will seek out that corner and just lie on the bottom there. |
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- Posted by calamity_j z7bc (My Page) on Sat, Dec 29, 12 at 12:47
| Good question...as I noticed my fish doing this in the pond, but I figured it was just them enjoying whatever warmth they get from the sun on the water....sheesh, can't wait for spring...wanna enjoy sitting by the pond again!!! |
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- Posted by cliff_and_joann z7 L.I.,NY (My Page) on Fri, Jan 11, 13 at 9:59
| my fish definately sun themselves in the warm sunlight in early spring. |
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