Fish yawning

[Paul]

When tired, humans are designed to yawn to increase blood O2 levels, shift CO2 and increase BP by taking in a big breath of air so they can continue to function without passing out (along with other theories).

You ever looked at your fish and its in the middle of a huge yawn? I have a sand sifting goby that is terrible for yawning (which sets me off yawning too!), any phish fizzyologists know if they do it for the same reasons?

[alanwsg]

My dwarf fuzzy lion fish does it a lot and boy, has he got a big mouth!

[Paul]

Its amazing how big their laughing gear can get init?

[Wombat]

yes it is pretty much for the same reason and also to use their gill rakers to clean their gills

[Paul P.]

also some fish use a gaping mouth as a defence/aggression tactic, my Royal Gramma does it if anything goes near his cave and my Orange Spotted goby does it too if my wrasse pokes his nose near his burrow

[guppy_reef]

i have noticed this in my convicts yes, at first i was concerned? could this be related to a lack of o2 in the water. I have a hard time believing fish get tired and yawn? but maybe...

[Wombat]

well a yawn is really a way of exchanging more gas than normal (in mammals for getting rid of a build up of CO2. If O2 was short in the water they will breath faster (more operculum movements per minute and if things are really bad gasp at the surface.

[simon garratt]

Yawning in fish is a way for them to flex and stretch the many joints and ligaments in the jaw structure. seeing as fish dont have hands, Its essential thier mouths are kept in good condition.


Regards

si.

[Bradden]

I think there's more to it than that.. my blenny always seems to start yawning when I'm talking to him :D