Have you ever wondered whether fish drink water as they swim around in it? Perhaps you want to know the answer because you are a marine life enthusiast or have a fish tank in your home. Whatever the reason, learning more about fish and how they act in water is good because it will make you think more deeply about how the human body hydrates.

So, Do Fish Drink Water?

Yes, some fish drink water, but only certain types of fish do.

Of course, fish have a unique relationship with water compared to humans because they live in it 24/7. Even though fish still require hydration, their hydration method differs from how humans hydrate themselves with a mere glass of water.

Let’s dive deeper into this so that you can understand this concept better.

Saltwater Fish – Constant Drinkers

Saltwater fish exist in environments saltier than them. They can only stay hydrated by constantly drinking water through their mouths as they swim through it. As the water passes through the fish’s gills and kidneys, the excess salt is removed from the water. It’s almost like a biological desalination system inside the fish’s bodies.

Freshwater Fish – Passive Sippers

Freshwater fish exist in environments less salty than them. They don’t actively drink water like saltwater fish do. Instead, freshwater fish absorb water through their skin and gills, similar to an osmosis process. It is like drinking water through the skin rather than through the mouth.

Why This Matters for Pet Fish Owners?

If you’re a pet fish owner with a home aquarium, you need to understand how your particular pet fish survives in water. It will help you take the necessary steps to ensure they have a long life.

Freshwater Tanks Require Different Care

For instance, freshwater fish in water tanks at your home will constantly absorb water through their skin. Your responsibility is to maintain a mineral balance in the water so the water cannot be too soft or hard. Otherwise, the freshwater fish won’t absorb the water too well, resulting in stress, bloating, and other health problems.

Saltwater Tanks Need Salt Level Monitoring

Saltwater fish constantly consume water through their mouths and expel salt. Your job is to monitor the salt levels in the water tank and ensure they are not too high or low. Otherwise, the saltwater fish won’t stay hydrated adequately.

Water Quality Affects Fish Hydration—Just Like It Affects Ours

Fish don’t want to drink dirty water any more than humans do. So, if you have a dirty fish tank with unbalanced salinity, don’t expect the fish to survive for very long. They will suffer everything from disease and stress to eventual death.

Clean water from filtration is necessary to keep your fish healthy and safe.

Upgrade Your Water Quality at Home with Waterdrop

Humans like yourself need clean, filtered water to stay hydrated and survive. Too many Americans drink unfiltered tap water and expose themselves to potential microplastics, lead, chlorine, and other contaminants in the water. So, tap water is not entirely safe to drink when you consume the impurities like these that might be in it.

You should care about the quality of your hydration as much as you care about your fish’s hydration.

Why We Recommend the Waterdrop Reverse Osmosis System X12

The Waterdrop Reverse Osmosis System X12 is the best water filtration system because of its 11-stage RO filtration process. It can filter up to 95% of your tap water’s potential contaminants and impurities. That makes it perfect to produce clean water for drinking, cooking, gardening, and adding water to your fish tank.

In addition, the X12 is a compact RO system without a water tank, making it easy and convenient to install underneath your kitchen sink. When you finish the installation, you will still have plenty of room under your sink. You’ll also be happy to know that the X12 consumes less water than other RO systems, which means you’ll save money on water and help support a healthier environment.