Do Fish Get Thirsty and Do They Need to Drink Water?

The video explores the concept of thirst in animals, focusing on fish. It explains how land animals experience thirst as a drive to maintain water and salt balance, known as homeostasis. Fish, however, have different mechanisms. Osmoconformers like hagfish match their internal salt levels with their environment, while osmoregulators like most fish maintain different internal concentrations. Freshwater fish absorb water through osmosis and excrete excess, while saltwater fish drink water and excrete salt. Some fish, like salmon, adapt to both environments. Fish don't feel thirst like land animals, as they live in water and manage hydration differently.

What is the primary reason land animals feel thirsty?

• To reduce their body weight

• To increase their body temperature

• To maintain a balance of water and salts in the body

• To enhance their sense of smell

How do Osmo conformers like hagfish manage their water and salt needs?

• By excreting excess salt through their gills

• By actively drinking water

• Through the process of osmosis

• By migrating between freshwater and saltwater

What challenge do freshwater fish face regarding their salt and water balance?

• They risk having their blood diluted if they drink water

• They have to excrete excess salt through their gills

• Their blood has a lower salt concentration than the surrounding water

• They need to drink water to maintain their salt levels

How do saltwater fish deal with the excess salt in their bodies?

• By reducing their salt intake

• By absorbing salt through their skin

• By drinking more water

• By excreting excess salt through their gills

Why do fish not experience thirst in the same way as land animals?

• They can store water in their bodies for long periods

• They live in water and do not need to seek it out

• They have a different sense of taste

• They do not need water for survival