Orange is an uncommon natural color for fish. However, there are a few species that exhibit various shades of orange due to pigments, diet, environment, and selective breeding.
Fish with Orange Pigmentation
Some fish have naturally occurring orange pigments that give them an orange coloration. This orange coloring often serves as camouflage in coral reef environments.
- Clownfish – These small fish are orange with white bands and inhabit sea anemones. Wild clownfish are a reddish-orange shade. Captive bred clownfish can have more intense orange coloration due to selective breeding.
- Banggai Cardinalfish – Native to the Banggai Islands in Indonesia, these fish are bright orange with three distinct black bars/stripes.
- Orange Anthias – Various Anthias species and hybrids have orange coloration. They are found on coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
- Orangespine Unicornfish – As the name suggests, this unicornfish has prominent orange spines. It lives on coral reefs in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
- Flame Angelfish – This angelfish has orange-red scales with diagonal black bands. It inhabits the tropical western Atlantic Ocean.
Fish with Orange Dietary Pigmentation
Some fish obtain orange pigments from their diet. Species that feed on shrimp and crustaceans containing carotenoids will develop orange shades.
- Salmon – Wild salmon get their distinctive orange-pink hue from eating krill and other prey high in astaxanthin. Farmed salmon are fed astaxanthin supplements to achieve the same coloring.
- Trout – Like salmon, trout also obtain orange pigmentation from eating carotenoid-rich foods like shrimp.
- Goldfish – Though captive bred goldfish strains exhibit many colors, wild goldfish are olive-green. When fed carotenoid-rich foods, they can develop orange pigmentation.
- Koi – closely related to goldfish, koi similarly derive their orange, red, and yellow coloring from their diet. Selective breeding has also played a role in creating vibrantly colored koi strains.
Fish Turning Orange Due to Environment
Some normally yellow, silver, or brown fish can develop orange hues due to environmental factors.
- Coral Reef Fish – Yellow and brown reef fish often become orange tinted due to eating orange sponges and coral.
- Redfish – These silvery fish develop an orange sheen during spawning seasons due to changes in their skin pigment cells.
- Brook Trout – When found in orange-tinted streams, the bellies of brook trout will take on an orange shade.
- Kelp Bass – Normally olive-colored, these temperate bass develop orange pigments from consuming the carotenoids in giant kelp.
Selectively Bred Orange Fish
Selective breeding practices have created unique orange color morphs of commonly kept aquarium fish.
- Glofish – These genetically modified zebrafish were originally bred to detect environmental toxins. They now come in bright orange and other fluorescent colors.
- Orange Platy – Platy are live bearing aquarium fish available in many colors, including orange.
- Orange Molly – Mollies have been bred to express different colors like orange and appear in solid, spotted, and mixed patterns.
- Tangerine Tiger Oscar – Oscars are large cichlids prized by aquarists. Selective breeding has led to new colorations like orange-red.
- Orange Crayfish – While most wild crayfish are brown, captive-bred orange morphs of species like red swamp crayfish are now common.
Conclusion
In summary, while few fish are naturally orange, many species exhibit orange coloration due to pigments, diet, environment, and selective breeding. Some of the most prominent orange fish include clownfish, salmon, goldfish, and unique aquarium strains.
Category | Examples |
---|---|
Naturally Orange | Clownfish, Banggai Cardinalfish, Orange Anthias |
Dietary Pigmentation | Salmon, Trout, Goldfish |
Environmental Coloration | Reef Fish, Redfish, Brook Trout |
Selective Breeding | Glofish, Orange Platy, Tangerine Tiger Oscar |