Fish belong to a class of creatures called aquatic vertebrates. Their combination of gills, fins and the fact that they live only in the water make fish different from all other animals. Most fish have a skeleton made of bone but some, like sharks, have a skeleton made of cartilage.

fun Facts About Fish

• There are over 30,000 different species of fish.
• Fish have vertebrae.
• Jellyfish, Starfish and Crayfish aren’t really fish.
• Fish breathe with gills.
• Fish swim with fins.
• Fish have scales.
• Fish talk to each other.
• Fish have small brains.

63 Fun Fish Facts. The word “halibut” means “holy flatfish” (hali=holy + butte=flatfish) because it was only eaten on holy days. Most fish reproduce by laying eggs, though some fish, such as great white sharks, give birth to live babies called pups. Lungfish can live out of water for several years.

All fish share two traits: they live in water and they have a backbone—they are vertebrates. Fish have developed special senses, too. Because water transmits sounds, disperses chemicals, and conducts electricity better than air, fish rely less on their vision and more on their hearing, taste, and smell.

Fish play an important role in nutrient cycles because they store a large proportion of ecosystem nutrients in their tissues, transport nutrients farther than other aquatic animals and excrete nutrients in dissolved forms that are readily available to primary producers.

Your fish are happy and healthy when they:

1. Swim actively throughout the entire tank, not just hanging out or laying at the bottom, floating near the top or hiding behind plants and ornaments.
2. Eat regularly and swim to the surface quickly at feeding time.

So, if you want to help your fish exercise and escape boredom, here are 7 ways to play with your betta fish:

1. Place a ping pong ball in the aquarium.
2. Use a mirror to watch your betta flare.
3. Introduce floating decorations.
4. Draw on the fish tank with dry erase markers.
5. Stick Post-its or other pieces of paper on the tank.