What Kind of Fish Live in Puddles?

Because they are small, lack oxygen and have poor water circulation, puddles are not a common place to find fish. Yet several types of hardy fish dwell in puddles and shallow pools in their natural habitat; some of these fish have specialized breathing systems to cope with the lack of oxygen in their environment.

  1. Betta Fish

    • Betta fish (Betta splendens), also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, are freshwater fish originally from Thailand and Cambodia. In the wild, they prefer swampy habitats that have poor water quality. They live in small puddles, jumping from puddle to puddle to eat bugs that fly over the water surface. Bettas are labyrinth fish -- fish that have a special breathing system allowing them to get oxygen from the air instead of the water. This breathing system makes them top-dwellers, especially suited to living in shallow water and puddles.

    Killifish

    • Killifish are of the Cyprinodontiformes order, which consists of over 500 specific species of Killifish residing in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. These freshwater surface-dwelling fish are well known for their adaptability; several kinds of Killifish inhabit brackish, small pools or temporary puddles, including those of the Nothobranchius and Austrolebias families. Since Killifish receive their oxygen from water, they die when their water sources dry up. Killifish eggs have adapted to this lifestyle by becoming dormant when the water dries up. The eggs become active again when rains return and they come into contact with water.

    Alaska Blackfish

    • Found only in eastern Siberia and Alaska, Alaska blackfish (Dallia pectoralis) live in lowland swamps, pools and lakes. These freshwater fish are able to live in stagnant, small tundra pools because of their modified esophagus, which allows them to breathe atmospheric oxygen. When the pools evaporate, Alaska blackfish can survive in the moist tundra moss while waiting for rain to re-fill the pools. These fish range from 2 ½ to 7 inches in length and rely on small invertebrates and aquatic insects for their principal food source.

    Longjaw Mudsucker

    • Longjaw Mudsuckers (Gillichthys mirabilis) are saltwater fish found only on the western coast of the United States and Mexico, in California and Baja California. They reside primarily in coastal sloughs and tidal flats, burrowing into the shallow mud found there. Longjaw Mudsuckers feature an extremely long upper jaw and a buccopharyngeal chamber -- an organ which allows them to breathe atmospheric oxygen for up to eight days when they're kept moist. They tolerate being in fresh water but can only reproduce in salt water.