Water velocity preferences of two benthic fishes, spined loach Cobitis taenia and Northern golden loach Sabanejewia baltica: an experimental approach

Bottom-dwelling fishes with low swimming capacity burrow into soft substrates or occupy shelters, such as stones and vegetation, to reduce metabolic costs of holding their position in running waters. As a consequence, under natural conditions it can be difficult to examine the effect of water flow as the limiting factor of benthic fishes. The velocity (0, 10, 20, and 30 cm s−1) preferences of spined loach and Northern golden loach were examined experimentally in an isosceles, cross-shaped acrylic tank with five square chambers (side of 15 cm and 40 cm high). Fish could select freely between a... Mehr ...