Lumpfish are strange but also incredibly important to ecosystems. Visit a lumpfish hatchery with us to discover this fantastic little fish. These fish get their name from the bumps that cover their bodies, giving them a lumpy appearance. The lumps also aid in their defense. These small fish have a suction cup disk on their bellies, allowing them to cling to rocks, seaweed, and other fish. That’s a good thing because they can barely swim. @sibleyaqua Check it out! Lumpfish! These peculiar fish have suction disks on their bellies, which can hold up to 18 kilograms, letting them cling to rocks and seaweed despite being poor swimmers. Covered in tubercles, their lumpy bodies provide both defense and their signature appearance. Hence where they get their name. This hatchery raises lumpfish until they’re big enough to thrive at sea in Scotland’s salmon farms. There, they help tackle sea lice by cleaning salmon as they swim by. In order to film these lumpies in all their glory, I had to take some out of the water to film. Rest assured, no lumpies were out of the water for more than a few seconds, which they can handle without issue. I work with both Salmon Scotland and Mowi. I regularly visit Mowi’s farms, as well as others, to learn more about how aquaculture operates in this region. #fishtok #seafood #salmon #atlanticsalmon #aquaculture #farmraised #farmedsalmon #fishhealth #lumpfish #sealice #lumpsucker #lumpies #wales #scotland ♬ original sound – James Sibley The video is from a lumpfish hatchery in North Wales. The entire farming process is extensive, considering how tiny the lumpfish are. Other names for the little fish are “Lumpies,” “Cleaner Fish,” and “Lumpsuckers.” Their pectoral fins have developed into the suction-cup-like disk on their belly. They are native to the North Atlantic but may travel as far south as the Chesapeake Bay. Farmers raise them in hatcheries to become “employees” at salmon farms. The lumpfish remove parasites from the salmon, which helps salmon farmers keep their stock healthy. Image from TikTok. Lumpfish enter the hatchery as eggs but hatch quickly. They begin life with a greenish color but turn bright blue as they mature to the juvenile stage. The hatchery grows the helpful little fish until they are large enough to vaccinate. Each fish must be immunized by hand, which can take several weeks. Once the fish have their vaccines, they are almost ready for transport to salmon farms. Each fish must reach about 25 grams in weight before they can be released at the salmon farms. The process, from hatching to shipping out, takes about eight months. The lumpies ride to the salmon farms via trucks equipped with tanks. Please share if you think these lumpfish are ugly but also adorable. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Bizarre Wildlife: Clip Shows Off Assortment Of Strange Lumpfish appeared first on InspireMore.