"Yawning" Fish

[hawkey992]

I've read that when a fish "yawns" it is a sign of poor water quality, especially if it is accompanied by a quivering of the body, but over the years, I've seen some of my fishes "yawning" in water that tested fine IMO and the other fish in the tank always did fine, no one ever died mysteriously. Hawkfish seem to do it a lot so I'm wondering if it may just be a natural part of some fishes behavior or is it something to be alarmed about ?

[kar93]

Where did you hear that? My fish always "yawn" and no ones dead yet

[hawkey992]

In a book, Tropical Fishlopedia by Mary Bailey and Peter Burgess, it's more geared for freshwater fishes but I was still concerned.

[kar93]

I dont think you have any need to be concerned. I havent noticed any problems with my freshwater yawning either.

[sunfish11]

They are drinking water. Both Saltwater and freshwater fish drink the tank water , so you are seeing them take a gulp when they "yawn."

Lisa

[kar93]

OH, i just thought they was actually yawning. lol

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11957660#post11957660 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sunfish11
They are drinking water. Both Saltwater and freshwater fish drink the tank water , so you are seeing them take a gulp when they "yawn."

Lisa
where did you get this information?

[LobsterMan]

My Royal Gramma yawns.Nothing is wrong with it.

[dickhordishay]

my royal gramma yawns all of the time too.

my clowns never really seem to though.

[snorvich]

One data point. In the wild, I have photographed various fish yawning, and normally it is when I have been hanging around too long and the fish feels uncomfortable. Now, admittedly this is anecdotal in origin so the causal relationship may be wrong. However it is clearly not water quality.

[sunfish11]

BTW, freshwater fish absorb water through their skin/osmosis. Only saltwater fish drink water. Sorry about that...

I heard about the fish drinking water at IMAC last year (and it being gulped during the yawn/flare). I can't remeber who mentioned it...but it was a presenter.

I have been doing some more research (of course this was just google research so could also be wrong) on this and it turns out that I was may be wrong as heck about the yawning (as was the person who I heard it from). The fish do drink the water but it probably isn't what is going on when they yawn. Although I don't think they are doing it because they are tired either. I am confused now.

Lisa

[adtravels]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11957660#post11957660 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sunfish11
They are drinking water. Both Saltwater and freshwater fish drink the tank water , so you are seeing them take a gulp when they "yawn."

Lisa

True apparently they are altering there internal water balance, osmoregulation, at leaslt part ot the process, along with constant excrtion of ions via cells in the gills.

dont worry they're not bored you dont need to aquascpe yet:D ;)

[adtravels]

They may also be realigning the jaw after feeding.

[just dave]

From what I've read the "yawning" is the fish stretching their muscles and I've seen this a few times from different authors. Here is one quote.


Anthiids exercise their mouth by yawing to keep their muscles flexible and ready to strike fast, often in quick succession, at prey when feeding on zooplankton. Rudie H. Kuiter



This make more sense to me as all saltwater fish must take in water to compensate for the water being leached out of their bodies by the surrounding saltwater and I've only ever noticed yawning from certain types of fish and they are all the type that would need quick strike capabilities for prey capture.

[sunfish11]

I have seen all my fish do it at one time or another...It made sense to me that they were getting a drink :confused:

Here is the Naso doing it


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/lmiller11/NasoYawn.jpg

[natan]

Different fish do it 4 different reasons. some just realling their mouth (like snakes do after feeding), otheres also as a territorial threat display (namely, grammas and some gobies). Than u can usually see what they display at (another animal or a person). It may also be an attempt to dislodge parasites on the gills (trematodes, ich) or part of the display to invite cleaners to take care of the pests. But, in case of parasites, fish are more likely to "caugh", trying to expell as much water as possible as fast as they can from the guills.

[sunfish11]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11963446#post11963446 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by natan
Different fish do it 4 different reasons. some just realling their mouth (like snakes do after feeding), otheres also as a territorial threat display (namely, grammas and some gobies). Than u can usually see what they display at (another animal or a person). It may also be an attempt to dislodge parasites on the gills (trematodes, ich) or part of the display to invite cleaners to take care of the pests. But, in case of parasites, fish are more likely to "caugh", trying to expell as much water as possible as fast as they can from the guills.

Why would they try to expell as much water as they could from the gills. They are in the water...doesn't make any sense for me. It definitely looks like they are sucking in and not pushing water out.

Lisa

[jmaneyapanda]

Fish may certainly ingest water when yawning, but that is not why they yawn. I yawn can act as a sneeze does for us. If parasite, debris etc. were caught in the gills or gill rakers, the VELOCITY of water from the yawn can dislodeg such issues, in adition to the numerous other benefits mentioned by others.

At any rate, in regards to the OP, it is certainly NOT a bad sign.

[hawkey992]

I looked this up in my ichthyology text book and it can also be "gill ventilation" when fish reverse the flow of water over their gills to clear debris ever so often. Anyways, my fears are at ease so thanks very much!

[Kanicky]

Haha, isn't it cute when they "yawn"? My Highfin Banded Goby did it twice last night, and I was like, "Holy moly, he's got a big mouth!"

I'd like to catch a picture of him doing that.

I have a picture of my deceased Golden Head Sleeper Goby yawning... pretty neat!

Interesting stuff on the "yawning," though. RC and RC'ers are amazing! :D