Fish Like Bettas?

[E3ramirez]

are there any other type of fish that can live with just oxygen from the air?

 

[SJ2K]

I believe gourami's also have the labrynth (sp) organ? Its somthing you'll need to research a little

 

[dthoffsett]

There are several different species, they are grouped as anabantoids, give it a google and see what you come up with.

 

[kribensis12]

Most fish can if the water dosent have enough oxygen, but a fish that was actually made to breath in air( and also through there gills) is the archer fish.

 

[Musho3210]

lung fish, i noticed that you said live from just oxygen in the air. I dont think there are any fish like that....

 

[Bignose]

Most fish can if the water dosent have enough oxygen, but a fish that was actually made to breath in air( and also through there gills) is the archer fish.

Define what you mean by "most" because the overwhelming majority of fish don't have labyrinth organs or modified gills or mouthes or guts that can process gaseous air. Regular gills do not work in the air, they only work under water. Gills are rather flimsy, and without the pressure from the water, they will collapse and stick together and they won't have anywhere enough surface area for sufficient gas exchange.

The following is excerpts from Fishes, An Introduction to Ichthyology 5th Edition, 2004, by Moyle and Chech, jr.:

Electric Eels (Electrophorus Electricus) are obligate air-breathing fishes. They have a well-vascularized area in their mouth through which the large majority of their required oxygen is taken up. Their gills have degenerated over evolutionary time, and their gills alone are insufficient to keep the fish alive. The electric eel with surface about once a minute to replenish the oxygen supply in its mouth, and it will drown if it is kept forcibly immersed.

Other fish that have modified areas in their mouth are the Asian climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) and the North American mudsucker (Gillichthys mirabilis). Both have mouth-breathing capabilities, but aren't obligate air-breathers; they can take un sufficient oxygen from the water.

Plecostamus is one of the catfishes that have parts of their guts specialized for oxygen uptake by actually swallowing air. The interesting thing about this is that, even though their gut takes up air, most of the rspiratory carbon dioxide that they get rid of, still leaves via the gills.

The South American (Lepidosiren paradoza) and the African (Protopterus spp) lungfishes are obligate air breathers. They are thought to have developed to apat to extensive drought conditions, which may completely dry up their environments. They take in air through a small vent, and even when their habitats refill with water, they surface to inspire air into well-sacculated and heavily vascularized lungs. But, similar to Plecos, they eliminate their carbon dioxide from vetigial gills, as well. The Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), on the other hand, isn't subjected to a lengthy drought conditions, and needs water to survive. It cannot live on atmospheric oxygen alone.

The walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) has modified gills, these catfish have structures that emanate from the gill arches, and ensure adequate support in a gaseous atmosphere. These structures prevent the collapse most fish's gills experience in air. The walking catfish's gills do still have to remain moist, however, and it actually primary moves across land while it is raining.

Finally, there a number of fish that are known to be able to exchange gas through their skin. European eels (Anguilla anguilla) can exchange between 10% and 41% of respiratory gas through their skins, and the mudskipper (Periophthalmus sobrinus) can exchange between 63% and 94%. Mudskippers can actually carry air to subsurface burrow chambers for their aerial respiratory needs while avoiding predators. European eels have been known to migrate short distances across land. Their tissues can dry out, however, so they usually only travel at night and on dewy grasses.

End quote from Moyle and Chech, Jr.

I do find it interesting that they don't mention the labyrinth breathers, the gouramies and the bettas. Oh well, those two are actually the fish the forum knows the most about, so there wouldn't be much to add anyway!

 

[AnotherRandomHero]

Most fish can if the water dosent have enough oxygen, but a fish that was actually made to breath in air( and also through there gills) is the archer fish.

Define what you mean by "most" because the overwhelming majority of fish don't have labyrinth organs or modified gills or mouthes or guts that can process gaseous air. Regular gills do not work in the air, they only work under water. Gills are rather flimsy, and without the pressure from the wat

...


End quote from Moyle and Chech, Jr.

I do find it interesting that they don't mention the labyrinth breathers, the gouramies and the bettas. Oh well, those two are actually the fish the forum knows the most about, so there wouldn't be much to add anyway!

I think he meant "CAN'T"... lol.