How do fish clean itslef?

Answer 1

Larger fish sometimes have smaller fish who clean the algae and parasites from their scales and gils. Smaller fish will rub themselves against the gravel, sand or against rocks to clean their scales.

Answer 2

Yes, but not all fish do this. If you go to a coral reef, there are points on that reef called "cleaner stations" where small fish that specialise at feeding off the parasites and loose skin of other fish live. Reef fish and deep sea (sharks etc) fish come to these stations and present themselves there for cleaning, a process they obviously enjoy. At these stations, the normal predator eats prey rules are suspended and different fish of many sizes and species queue up to be cleaned. If the cleaner fish are removed the health of the whole reef ecosystem suffers. The fish providing this cleaning service are usually small - cleaner shrimps, cleaner wrasse and cleaner butterfly fish and to advertise their trade they approach their customers displaying characteristic colours and a sort of dancing movement.

In amongst the genuine cleaner fish there have evolved some predatory species that mimic the colours and movement of the cleaners but when allowed near the customer fish they dart in and take a nip of flesh.

If you go deep sea diving in tropical water a cleaner station is a good place to hang out - sometimes the cleaner fish come and clean you too....it tickles!

Answer 3

Fish clean themselves by producing a slimy mucus that covers their bodies. This mucus helps to protect the fish from parasites and other harmful microorganisms. Some fish also have specialized cleaning behaviors, such as wriggling against rocks or substrate to remove parasites.

Answer 4

Yes and no since the fish is constantly in water it can not take a bath BUT fish are cleaned by cleaner fish that in turn get a free snack.