Gills

Respiratory organ extracting oxygen from water.

The gills are the respiratory organs of fish. They are located on each side of the head of the fish, generally just behind the lids (the movable eyelids that cover the eyes). The gills are made up of very fine and delicate filaments called branchial filament, which are immersed in the water. When the fish opens its mouth to suck water, the latter passes through the branchial filament and is filtered in order to remove the dissolved oxygen. The fish then uses oxygen extracted from water to breathe.

The gills are an essential organ for the survival of the fish, because they allow them to breathe in an aquatic environment. However, they also have other important functions. For example, they can be used to maintain the osmotic balance of the fish, that is to say to regulate the level of salt and other chemicals in his body. They can also be used to filter impurities and unwanted particles of water.

There are different types of gills in fish, which can vary in shape and in size depending on the species. For example, external gills fish have gills located outside their body, generally under the lower jaw. These gills are very visible and easily accessible, which makes them vulnerable to injuries and infections. Internal gills fish, on the other hand, have gills located inside their body and are protected by a membrane. Internal gills fish are less vulnerable to injuries and infections, but their respiratory system is generally less effective than that of external gills fish.

It is important to take care of the gills of your fish, because poor water quality can affect their operation. For example, too hot or too cold water, or water contaminated with chemicals or bacteria, can damage gills and cause respiratory problems in fish. It is therefore recommended to maintain quality water using suitable water treatment products and regularly changing water from the aquarium.

In summary, the gills are the branching respiLles organs are the respiratory organs of the fish, which allow them to breathe in an aquatic environment. They are made up of very fine and delicate filaments called branchial filament, which are immersed in water and allow you to filter dissolved oxygen for breathing. The gills also have other important functions, such as maintaining osmotic balance and filtering water impurities. There are different types of gills in fish, which can vary in shape and in size depending on the species. It is important to take care of the gills of your fish by maintaining quality water in the aquarium.