27 Aquatic lifeforms you never caught while fishing

[naiad]

I think I can see him now, among the other fish. I have a plain black fish and it is impossible to see him most of the time. He hides under the other fish for safety, but as they are bright orange this makes him easier to find.

The huge carp in Thailand was probably a Siamese Giant Carp.
http://forums.deeperblue.net/beach-bar/66517-carp-anyone-2.html#post600011

 

[atomichaggis]

Yup the big one was indeed a Siamese giant carp and it was estimated at over 20 stone!

 

[naiad]

That is one fish I would like to freedive with - a 20 stone carp!

When I moved my fish into their new outdoor tank, I had to scrub the algae off the old one. The green and brown algae are surprisingly abrasive, like very fine sandpaper, and my fingernails were soon worn short by it. The fish nibble away at it all day, so I guess their lips must be extremely tough to avoid damage. Maybe the skin is constantly replaced as it wears out. Carp do have very tough mouths.

Another strange carp is found in lakes in Portugal. It is exactly the same as a normal Common carp, except that it has huge and wrinkled lips. A high percentage of carp in these lakes have this feature, and they seem otherwise healthy. One theory is that they use their extra-tough lips to tackle crayfish.

 

[atomichaggis]

It would be like swimming with a minky whale! Siamese giant carp have creepy eyes tho.

I think most fish have tough mouths. I often catch Cod with crabs still hanging from their lips... they just carry on feeding. You can often find indentations where fishing hooks have been stuck in their mouths and been dissolved.
Carp lips feel similar... minus the really abrasive teeth beyond.

 

[naiad]

Siamese giant carp have creepy eyes tho.

When carp and similar fish are taken out of the water, they roll their eyes down. They also do this when they put their face out of the water to get food. It does make them look strange!
http://forums.deeperblue.net/attachments/beach-bar/10293d1157021931-some-my-pets-goldfish.jpg

Carp do have teeth, but they are at the back of their throat so they can only be used for chewing and not biting. They are sometimes replaced and the old ones fall out and are found at the bottom of the pond.
http://www.longislandkoi.com/koiteeth.jpg

 

[atomichaggis]

When carp and similar fish are taken out of the water, they roll their eyes down. They also do this when they put their face out of the water to get food. It does make them look strange!

Yeah, thats exactly what I'm talking about lol. I've got a cutting of that article with the giant carp pinned on a board (someone mailed it to me).
I must throw it in the bin... bloody creepy.

 

[naiad]

I think they are cute.
A thread from another forum with a video of Corydoras catfish 'blinking'. It is near the bottom of the page, the one on the right does it at 00:35 and the one on the left at 00:25.
[ame=http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2286]Why do my Corys 'blink'? - Practical Fishkeeping Forum[/ame]

 

[naiad]

Carp with human faces...
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTVwgvqhwn8]YouTube - Human face fish[/ame]

 

[atomichaggis]

Never say never again....

This time I meet the Chimaera