Air Bladder
Many
fish species maintain their relative depth in the water column by adjusting the
volume and pressure of gas in their air bladder in order to maintain a neutral
buoyancy. To maintain equilibrium at increasing depths where the gas in the air
bladder would be compressed, greater gas pressure is required in the air
bladder. Conversely, at shallow depths less pressure is required as the gas in
the air bladder expands. The air bladder occupies approximately 4 to 6% of the
total volume of the fish. Quick vertical movements without adjustment to
the rates of secretion of gas into, or reabsorption of gas from, the air
bladder. However the magnitude of these movements may be related to the depth of
the fish. The rapid removal from deep water at a rate far in excess of the rate
that the fish can actively remove gas from the air bladder. Often the result is
an excessively inflated air bladder that may distend the abdomen, or force the
air bladder
and gut lining to protrude out of the mouth. The probability of survival for a
fish released with a distended air bladder is not high. The fish may reabsorb
the excess gas in time. Some people claim they can release the air from the
bladder by poking a hole in the fish with a needle but a tear in the gut wall
would readily allow water to penetrate the internal body cavity of the
fish. This would most likely lead to the entry of water into the body cavity
resulting in death of the fish.