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Where flying fish feed
Flying fish are epipelagic specialists: they forage in the ocean’s upper, sunlit waters, where plankton is concentrated. The Billfish Foundation describes them as living within roughly the top 20 inches (50 cm) of surface water and eating microscopic plankton there. This shallow habitat keeps them close to the drifting prey they can encounter while swimming.
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They do not have to leave the water to feed. A flying fish may launch into an aerial glide when threatened, but feeding takes place in the water before or after that leap.
What flying fish eat
Zooplankton forms the core of the diet, but the exact menu differs among species. An eastern-Pacific study examined 359 specimens collected at 50 night-time dip-net stations and found strong prey differences among species.
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| Finding | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Six species obtained 58.3–96.9% of their prey by number from copepods | Copepods can dominate the diet of some flyingfish, but this range applies only to those six species in that study. |
| Other species ate amphipods, copepods, molluscs and larval fish | “Flying fish” is a group of species with varied diets, not a single uniform feeder. |
| Cypselurus agoo contained macro-zooplankton in a Japanese study | Larger planktonic animals can also be important, depending on species and location. |
Suyehiro’s 1935 anatomical and feeding study summarized the prey as “macro-zoo plankton of tropical and oceanic nature.”
How a flying fish captures a meal
1. It remains in the prey-rich surface zone
Swimming through the epipelagic layer brings a flying fish into contact with drifting copepods and other small animals. Feeding is therefore tied to habitat: the fish searches where currents and surface conditions make plankton available.
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2. It detects prey with its eyes
Large eyes help flying fish find small prey visually. The Billfish Foundation specifically notes that they can hunt plankton at night, when visual conditions are difficult but some plankton is still available near the surface. The eastern-Pacific study also found differences in feeding time, including asynchronous feeding among sympatric species. Using different hours or prey types can reduce direct competition.
3. It takes prey with its mouth
The fish closes its small, terminal mouth around planktonic prey while swimming. Suyehiro described villiform denticles—fine, brush-like teeth—on the jaws and tongue, a structure consistent with gripping or handling small prey.
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The available studies do not document a detailed high-speed sequence showing whether a particular species relies mainly on suction, forward (ram) feeding, or a combination. It is more accurate to say that flying fish visually locate and orally capture small prey than to assign them an unverified feeding stroke.
4. It processes food through a streamlined digestive system
Suyehiro reported a straight digestive tract without a distinct stomach or pyloric appendages and interpreted the rapid digestion as part of a lightweight body plan. Reduced internal mass, together with long fins, helps an animal that must accelerate from the water and glide.
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Do flying fish eat while they are flying?
No evidence in these studies shows flying fish catching food in midair. Their “flight” is a powered launch followed by gliding over the water. The enlarged pectoral fins—and, in four-wing species, enlarged pelvic fins—act as aerodynamic surfaces for escape and movement.
Four-wing flying fish can glide up to 400 m, according to Lewallen and colleagues (2011). That distance describes locomotion and predator avoidance, not a feeding technique. A flying fish must return to the water to encounter and swallow plankton.
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- COMPLETE DIET: Nutritionally balanced for optimal health.
- ACTIVE LIFE FORMULA: With added antioxidants for healthy cells, select proteins for growth and prebiotics for digestion.
- CLEAR-WATER FORMULA: Won’t cloud water when used as directed.
- LESS WASTE: Feed two to three times daily, only as much as your fish can consume within three minutes.
Why diets and feeding times differ
Several flyingfish species may share the same surface habitat without taking exactly the same food. The eastern-Pacific results show prey partitioning by taxon and by feeding time: one species may emphasize copepods, another may take a broader mixture, and their peak feeding periods may not coincide. These differences allow related species to coexist while limiting overlap in their use of plankton.
Quick Recap
Flying-fish feeding versus gliding adaptations
| Feature | Role in feeding | Role in gliding |
|---|---|---|
| Large eyes | Help detect plankton, including during night foraging. | Not identified as a flight surface. |
| Small terminal mouth and villiform denticles | Take and hold small planktonic prey. | Not used as aerodynamic equipment. |
| Long pectoral fins | No evidence that they scoop or trap prey. | Provide lift and control during the glide. |
| Pelvic fins in four-wing species | No established prey-catching function. | Add a second pair of gliding surfaces; these species can travel up to 400 m. |
The simplest answer
- Flying fish feed in the water, mainly near the ocean surface.
- They visually find zooplankton and take it with their mouths.
- Copepods are especially important for several species, while others eat a broader mix that can include amphipods, molluscs and larval fish.
- Species differ in prey choice and feeding time.
- The wing-like fins are primarily for gliding away from predators, not for catching food.
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