Swimming against the current?

[Lisaebetten]

I am not a fisherman and don't know the reason why fish like to swim against the current. It is called something.....the Aquarium at Niagara Falls had a station with a button I could push to start the current in the tank and the fish all turned and swam into right away. Who? What? Where? Why? When? I tried to upload a video from my phone but it says it doesn't have the right extension on it, sorry.

 

[Mmathis]

Maybe for some fish it's instinct. For others, maybe just fun.

 

[Lisaebetten]

I have lots of air going into the pond so I figured there is some reason other then air. I suppose it can get boring swimming in the same old 1000 gallons day after day! I think they do like it, maybe exercise also? I love to watch my fast growing gold fish dart as fast as he can to the other side, then the other 3 play follow the leader. Fun.

 

[mrsclem]

I recently updated my air pump to a heavy duty one and the koi love it! Constantly playing in the bubbling water. Maybe it's like a spa to them?

 

[haver79]

I have a spitter that the fish love to swim through where it hits the water. Fun to watch them.

 

[Lisak1]

When I'm out watering the gardens near the pond I'll spray the hose so it sprinkles over the surface of the pond. They all go nuts trying to get into direct line of the spray. It's like a cat with a laser. Oh, we have fun!

 

[Mmathis]

I think they just like some variety, like we do! Just like public fountains that squirt from the ground in playful patterns [no idea what you call them....] -- those things are kid-magnets!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I'm imaging a song called "Against The Current" by Fishbob Seger.


I feel like they just enjoy the pressure created by current.

 

[mariobrothersleeve]

I have lots of air going into the pond so I figured there is some reason other then air. I suppose it can get boring swimming in the same old 1000 gallons day after day! I think they do like it, maybe exercise also? I love to watch my fast growing gold fish dart as fast as he can to the other side, then the other 3 play follow the leader. Fun.

I thought it had to do with lack of oxygen, but I installed a 2500gph pump the breaks at the surface and they constantly make laps into the flow. I think it is the koi nature to be in a stream, but for other fish, I have no idea.

 

[RobAmy]

I find my small goldfish in one of the small run off currents I have and it appears that they are feeding there. This is coming from one of the bio filters, so I am sure there are some goodies in there like worms, etc. When I put the hose in there, they all like to play in the current.

 

[Lisak1]

If you saw the trailer for the upcoming "PondStars", they are going to build/rebuild a pond for some obese koi. It looked like they were adding a strong current for the fish to swim in - koi treadmill!

We have a strong current where our negative edge drops off into the rain exchange and the koi love to hang out there. They get as close to the edge as they can without going over and then swim back out against the current.

 

[JohnHuff]

the reason why fish like to swim against the current. It is called something.....

Stubborn.

 

[Lisaebetten]

If you saw the trailer for the upcoming "PondStars", they are going to build/rebuild a pond for some obese koi. It looked like they were adding a strong current for the fish to swim in - koi treadmill!

We have a strong current where our negative edge drops off into the rain exchange and the koi love to hang out there. They get as close to the edge as they can without going over and then swim back out against the current.

I missed the last 2 episodes!! TV only make it into my life when I'm sick or it's 11pm!!! Hope I can find reruns or on demand.

 

[Shdwdrgn]

Thanks for the heads-up, I never heard of this show!

And yes, the fish do it for fun. One of our aquariums is set up specifically as a river tank -- it has a high water flow across the top, but is fairly calm down in the plants. The fish will swim in the current and appear to be playing, then when they get tired they will drop back into the plants again. There's no reason for them to swim in the current, but they definitely enjoy it.

 

[addy1]

The fish will swim in the current and appear to be playing, then when they get tired they will drop back into the plants again

They know exercise is good for them!