The Seaside Institute

Can sheepshead fish hurt you? Very painful. Sheepshead, too, have sharp, stout spines in their pectoral and anal fins. More visible and numerous than catfish spines, a sheepshead’s weapons resemble knitting needles. Definitely something to avoid.

Are there any freshwater salmon? Sockeye salmon that exist in freshwater lakes without access to the sea are often called Kokanee salmon.

Do redfish taste good? The mild, sweet flavor and moist white meat seems to be far superior, especially from those smaller redfish less than 10 or 15 pounds, as the meat of larger “bull” redfish can be coarse, stringy, and unpalatable.

Are rays considered a fish? Rays and skates are dorsoventrally flattened fish that are closely related to sharks. All are considered to be within a closely related group of fish called elasmobranchs. Rays belong to three scientific orders – Pristiformes, Myliobatiformes, and Torpediniformes while skates are classified in the order Rajiformes.

Can piranhas be in saltwater? Piranha (Pygocentrus oceanus). Piranhas are an omnivorous species usually found in South American rivers but through a recent marine census a salt water species was found inhabiting tropical waters off the coast of Australia.

Are molly fishes aggressive? Mollies are peaceful, but the fish show signs of aggression when housed in overcrowded tanks or with aggressive tank mates. For this reason, you should house molly fish with friendly fish, and give the fish plenty of space to swim in.

Is a manta ray a fish or mammal? Mammal or fish? Many mistakenly consider mantas to be mammals. In reality, they are fish, belonging to the same class (Elasmobranchii) as sharks, and other species of ray.

Is a lobster technically a fish? Lobsters are considered marine crustaceans along with shrimp, krill, and barnacles. The American lobster, found in the Atlantic Ocean, bears the scientific name Homarus americanus.

Are koi fish the same as carp? Koi fish are colorful, ornamental versions of the common carp. Modern Japanese koi are believed to date back to early 19th-century Japan where wild, colorful carp were caught, kept and bred by rice farmers. The word “koi” comes from the Japanese word for “carp.”

Are goldfish same as carp? Goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) are part of the carp family but do not have barbells around their mouths. They vary in their fin configuration, coloration and in their body size, which is directly influenced by their environment.