B. ocellata

Hey marine biologists, divers, fishers, and aquarium havers of reddit,

If you were to reach out and pet a eel, what does its skin feel like?

Is there a difference between what a living and dead eel feel like? If so what would that be?

Note, I do in fact know you're not supposed to touch eels because the oil on your skin can damage the eel's skin, you can hurt the eel because they're fragile, and you're risking your finger being bitten off. But I know humans well enough to know that has never stopped anyone.

I am posting this because I am writing a short story and need to know what eel skin feels like (the more species the better, fresh and salt water, b/c I have heard they have different skin textures). All I can find is info of what eel leather feels like which is helpful but not what I need and I don't know who else to ask.

Thank you for your time.

Posting here maybe some other fish lovers will understand my heartache!

So 2 months ago I got out a bad relationship with my ex. He ghosted me to get with someone else. Today I was scrolling Facebook and someone I know posted a picture of their Amazon packages on the table in the background was a fish tank.

I zoomed in as I love fish and saw the exact fish me and my ex had. The ones we bought together, watched grow and named like it’s literally them. I know it sounds weird but we know fish can be lovely pets they have personalities and you can get attached. I miss those fish. I know the lady she’s taken our fish before she is active in the community and takes a lot of fish in.

I messaged and explained said I’d love to have the chance to buy them back from her they were special to me. Acknowledge they might not even be ours but it’s the same lot so would be huge coincidence. I know she doesn’t have to but she didn’t even reply. Poured my heart out about how much I love those stupid little fish and she’s seen it and not replied. I feel like an idiot.

I hope you’re doing ok mr golden gourami and big rusty and little rusty. I miss you loads.

It was so surreal seeing one in real life! And so interactive!

On our way to dive in Cozumel, we spotted a mola mola (sunfish) in the Cozumel Channel, so we jumped in for a closer look. What a surprise! These fish aren’t normally found around here, and this was already our third encounter. It makes you wonder what’s going on out there and how much things are changing in our oceans. A beautiful, unexpected moment, but also a little reminder that the sea is changing in ways we still don’t fully understand.

Hello. Posting as a beginner which seems to be okay in the community rules. We are fairly new to fish keeping and have a small tank with some guppies and zebra fish. One of them has a round stomach and is moving more slowly. The rest seem to be fine and behaving as normal. I can’t tell if this fish is male or female, let alone if they are pregnant or if they have another issue (overeating, dropsy, some sort of parasite?) I really hope this community can help me determine which one it is. Thank you in advance!

Atractosteus spatula

T. vittata

credit: benndevs

Hi again, Fish sub! I am back with another one of my art projects. This piece is miniature version of an earlier spawning sockeye salmon design. I may or may not be obsessed 😆 I’ve only done 2 so far, but I can tell there will be MANY of these in the future

I’m still playing around with colors, and that may be a feature for these guys. Small differences between each design could be cute

Made with punch needle embroidery, mostly made of yarn and felt

found in southwestern kentucky, i was scooping up mosquito fish for my pond when i also caught this guy. didn’t realize he looked different until he was swimming around & i could constantly pick him out from the bunch. he also swims more like a bottom dweller, where he stays closer to the floor & in one spot unless spooked. any thoughts?
he has a black dot on his tail & thin black line running up his body that the mosquito minnows do not

Not my bathroom

My first thought was Pearl Cichlid but I could be wrong. These photos were taken in a lake in Ellenbrook, Perth Western Australia.

Caught in the Medina River Natural Area, doesn’t quite match the coloring of a bluegill, different eyes and the ear. Hybrid maybe?