Learn how fish communicate with each other through sounds, colors, movements, and chemicals in this easy-to-understand explanation designed for 13-year-olds.
Fish live underwater, and like all animals, they need to communicate to survive. But since they don’t talk like humans, they use different ways to send messages to each other. Let’s explore the main ways fish communicate:
Fish can make sounds by rubbing parts of their body together, vibrating their swim bladder (which helps them float), or using their fins. These sounds help fish warn others about danger, find mates, or defend their territory.
Fish use their body language to show how they feel. For example, they might change the way they swim, flare their fins, or make certain movements to show aggression, attract friends, or signal submission.
Many fish can change their colors or show bright patterns on their bodies. These color changes can communicate things like readiness to mate or warn other fish to stay away.
Fish release chemicals called pheromones into the water to send messages. These chemicals can help fish recognize each other, signal reproduction, or alert others to danger.
Fish need to find mates, avoid enemies, and live together peacefully when possible. Their communication helps them do all these things successfully underwater!
So, even without voices, fish have an amazing toolkit of ways to talk with one another and survive in their watery world.