What is a pilot fish?
Q: What is a pilot fish?
A: The pilot fish (Naucrates ductor) is a type of fish that lives in warm water in many places around the world.
Q: What do pilot fish eat?
A: Pilot fish usually eat parasites on larger fish, as well as small pieces of food that their host does not eat (leftovers). When they are young, they also feed on jellyfish and drifting seaweeds.
Q: How do sharks and pilot fish interact?
A: Sharks and pilot fish have a mutualistic relationship; the pilot fishes eats parasites off of the shark's body, while the shark does not harm or eat the pilot fishes. Smaller pilot fishes are often seen swimming into the mouth of a shark to eat small pieces of food from its teeth.
Q: What color is a pilot fish?
A: Pilot fishes have dark blue to blackish-silver colour, with lighter colour underneath. They also have between five and seven dark stripes going from top to bottom which disappear when they become excited, replaced by three large blue patches on their back.
Q: How big can a pilot fish be?
A: Pilot fishes can grow up to 70 cm long but are usually about 30 cm long.
Q: Are people able to catch them easily?
A: No, it is difficult for people to catch them due to their fast swimming speed and agility in water.
Q: Do sailors believe that sharks and pilots act like friends?
A Yes, sailors believe that sharks and pilots act like close friends because when one was captured by ships, the other followed it for up to six weeks showing signs of distress in its absence.
