What do salmon fish eat?

Salmon are fascinating creatures with a varied diet that changes throughout their life cycle. Here's a breakdown of what salmon eat in different stages:

Fry (newly hatched salmon):

* Zooplankton: Tiny crustaceans and other microscopic organisms.

* Insect larvae: They eat larvae of various insects that live in the water.

Parr (juvenile salmon):

* Insects: They graduate to eating larger insects, including mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies.

* Crayfish: Small crustaceans.

* Small fish: They start to eat small fish like minnows and sculpins.

Smolts (young salmon that are about to migrate to the sea):

* Continue eating a diet similar to parr but with a focus on larger prey.

Adult Salmon:

* Ocean-going salmon: They mainly eat fish like herring, capelin, and squid.

* River-dwelling salmon: They typically focus on insects and crustaceans found in freshwater.

Important to Note:

* Diet varies by species: Different salmon species have slightly different preferences.

* Availability impacts diet: The specific foods a salmon eats depend on what's available in its environment.

Hope this gives you a better understanding of what salmon eat!