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While in the egg, baby cave fish often have eyes. In most cases, however, they disappear before hatching.
Fish living near the openings of caves may retain their eyes, but they will likely have limited vision.
Blind Mexican Cave Fish are largely scavengers, eating the animal or plant remains that settle on the floor of their cave ponds.
However, they’ll also eat insects and other small creatures that happen to swim by.
Their small size means that they’re a tasty snack for a huge range of bigger fish, birds, and other animals.
However, their enhanced senses give them an advantage when it comes to detecting threats.
If they avoid predators, blind cave fish are quite hardy and typically live for around a decade—quite a long time for such a tiny fish.
This—combined with their schooling nature—makes them popular options for personal aquariums around the world.
If you’re interested in seeing one of these critters in person, you’re far more likely to encounter one at your local pet store or aquarium than you are to see one in the wild.
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