It’s o-fish-al, Dad’s are the best!

by Leah Robertson

On both land, and in the ocean we are thankful for great dads! However, when we think of fish in the ocean, fish parental care may not immediately come to mind. But dads play a huge role in taking care of their offspring in the ocean!
 
So in honour of father’s day, we have chosen two special fish-dads to highlight! Meet the rock gunnel:

Photo: Leah Robertson

​This lil guy is often mistaken for an eel, but they are much smaller than that - only growing to 30cm! In this photo, father rock gunnel is guarding a cluster of eggs which are in the back of this very clever home - a bottle!
 
 
Our second dad is the 3-spined stickleback, who will teach us all about the ways fish act as fathers. 

Photo: Leah Robertson

​This little fish can be found in our local fresh, coastal and brackish waters.  They can be characterized by three tiny spikes on the top and the persistence of being a great father!

​The males of this fish work hard to build their nest to attract females, when their off springs are just a twinkle in their eye! They work to build these nests by digging a small pit, and then filling it with cozy ocean objects like algae to make it just right. After building their nest, they will do a zigzag dance to attract the female (seriously true!). If the fit is right, the soon to be momma will swim into the nest and lay her eggs. From there on out dad takes over in protecting the eggs, from fanning them often to creating little holes to ensure they are well ventilated soon to be tiny fish. Once the sticklebacks do hatch, dad will try to keep them around for a few days and if any try to wander away he will suck them up with his mouth and spit them back out near the nest. Talk about committed!  
 
We are whaley thankful for dads both on land and in the ocean!


P.S. Special Father’s Day shout out to my own dad!

Leah is a STEAM facilitator at the Discovery Centre and a true connoisseur of mini aquariums! She worked at the Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium for three seasons and has been volunteering for Back to the Sea since 2016. Leah was a Scientific Interpreter during the Touch Tank Hut trial in 2017 and is our Chair of the Communications Committee.