Fish can get seasick according to German scientist

by amyjudd | April 21, 2009 at 12:56 pm
301 views | 14 Recommendations | 4 comments

Fish can indeed become seasick according to a German scientist, who even says that they can go green around their gills. Dr. Reinhold Hilbig, a zoologist from Stuttgart was studing the effects of humans in space when he tested the effects of weightlessness in water.

He put 49 fish into an aquarium and then sent them up in a plane that took a steep dive towards earth, mimicking a loss of gravity for astronauts. He claimed that eight of the fish started turning around in circles.

“They completely lost their sense of balance, behaving like humans who get seasick,” said Dr Hilbig.

“The fish lost their orientation, they became completely confused and looked as if they were about to vomit.

"In the wild such 'seasick' fish would become prey for others because they are incapable of fleeing from danger.”


The affected eight were later killed so that their brains could be looked at to determine the cause of their sickness.
Dr. Hilbig claims that loss of eye contact with water movement and the emmense vibrations are what caused the fish to become sick.

Photos

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103 | Photo 02

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uploaded by sleeptowin

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0
Blaine Metzgar

Sadly enough, this makes me a little sad.

1
jordan

Do fish just call it "getting sick", though?

0
charles.f

lonley fish.

charles.f has contributed a photo to this story.

0
jazzyzazzy

Awe thats a wee shame, poor wee fish. The pics are a pleasure to the eye Amy.

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First Flagged at 5:33 PM, Apr 21, 2009 by Paschen
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