Many people are curious whether catfish can survive out of the water after seeing that they can be found in open bowls and buckets in the market that barely has any water.
A mind-blowing video shared on the internet shows a mummified air-breathing Suckermouth catfish breathing for the first time after its hibernation-like mode. The fish is native to South America and is named after its specialized mouth.
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The catfish can be seen breathing for the first time through its mouth after water was poured on top of its body, Metro reported. The extraordinary incident was shared on Reddit and it has since gone viral.
The fish was an air-breathing Suckermouth catfish, also known as the common pleco, a species that developed an ability to a hibernation-like mode. That means the fish could survive under dried hardened mud for months even with no access to water not until the rain arrives.
Plecos are extraordinary fish because they can live up to 30 hours outside water as long as they have enough oxygen in their abdomens. They are adaptable, weigh up to three pounds, and rely on their accessory organ, like a gill cavity that allows the fish to breathe air.
The gills are used for respiration both in water and on the surface to breathe air when less oxygen is present in the water. But plecos are not the only air-breathing fish since the African lungfish also have gills that have adapted to live during periods of drought.
Interestingly, they can retain moisture while allowing enough air to circulate around them to breathe. According to The Sun's report, the African lungfish can also live out of water for up to four years.
How Long Can Catfish Live Out of Water?
Catfish in open bowls in the market seem to be okay before they are sold because of their ability to survive out of water for a few hours. However, they cannot breathe air to live permanently that is why they are kept in an open bowl with little water, which is also needed to keep their skin moist. They can survive as long as they are kept wet, according to Hooked On Catfish.
The resilience of the catfish is the reason why they can adapt to conditions in different parts of the world. There are many catfish species and their stability has allowed them to survive in moist conditions out of water for several hours.
Like the African lungfish, catfish is one of the known fish species that can survive in areas suddenly hit by drought. They are primarily found in muddy areas when a river dries up. But even little moisture in muddy regions is enough to keep the catfish alive for a while. However, extended periods of drought could dry them up and reduce the moisture level on their skin like the one caught in the video.
The time they can stay out of water is dependent on the weather conditions. So if it is summer, catfish can hardly survive out of water for too long. But in humid weather, they can stay for a longer time.
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