How to Train Your Dragon Wiki
Register
Advertisement
How to Train Your Dragon Wiki
Books Franchise



Fish are essential creatures - mostly in the background - to the entire DreamWorks Dragons Franchise.

Description[]

Fish are a large, diverse group of vertebrate aquatic creatures that bear gills and fins, and can reside in freshwater, seawater, and brackish water. Some species are even capable of breathing air with lung-like organs and can cross land for short periods of time. However, fish are almost entirely dependent on water. Fish as a group is extremely diverse, living in many water habitats across the world at a variety of temperatures. They range in size from barely visible to the size of a whale (which is a mammal, not a fish). They come in many colors and shapes and some are very rare.

In the DreamWorks Dragons Franchise, fish imagery is typically not very precise, and often a "generic" fish is shown rather than details of a specific species. The exception is in the game, School of Dragons, which is a science-based game. In that game, species information is detailed for educational purposes.

In the School of Dragons player quest "Learn About the Food Chain", Mulch mentions that fish eat mosquitoes, along with "breadcrumbs and worms", the latter presumably as bait when fishing for them.

Function[]

For the most part, in actuality and in the Franchise, a fish's use is for food. Humans have probably been eating fish since they came to be. In the Franchise, fish are also the main - or at least a significant portion of - diet of most dragons. Their desire to eat fish is in part how the Vikings are able to train them, starting with Toothless in the first movie, How to Train Your Dragon. Toothless seems especially fond of mackerel. One particular exception is most dragon species' aversion to eel. Eel causes illness in most dragons. Typhoomerangs, however, are immune and are said to love eels.

Franchise-Fish-Transparent-2

To catch fish, dragons seem to have numerous hunting behaviors to accomplish this. Some dragons like the Night Fury, simply stick their head into the water and grab any fish present; however, Toothless was also grounded at this time and may have other behaviors when able to fly. Others, like the Monstrous Nightmare, dive into the water and round up shoals of fish by circling around them. The Bewilderbeast gulps large amounts of fish before spitting them out into the air for its dragons to feed on. In the game, Dragons: Rise of Berk, dragons that are able to fish-dive straight into the sea and disappear, reappearing with a mouth full of fish. Seashockers appear to hunt fish quite like dolphins.

Types of Fish Seen in the Franchise[]

Angler Fish[]

Angler Fish are saltwater fish seen in the game, School of Dragons fishing activity. In game, the player must fly out to sea on a Gronckle with a special Deep-sea fishing rod to catch these fish. Only Gronckles can be used, because they are able to hover on one place over the sea.

In Dragons: Rise of Berk, an Angler Fish is an item that can be found by the Purple Death and used to complete Marooned Dragons collections.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • The male anglerfish is a lot smaller than the female. When the male anglerfish matures, its digestive system stops functioning.
  • The anglerfish is known to be one of the ugliest creatures on the planet.
  • An anglerfish's skin and bones are very thin and flexible, thus allowing it to eat larger prey.
  • The female angler fish has a spine like a fishing rod, that supports a light producing organ known as photophore.
  • When a male anglerfish can no longer eat, it finds a female and hooks itself to her using its teeth. He releases an enzyme that fuses their blood vessels together.

Anglerfish are actually a large group of fish of the Order Lophiiformes. and occur worldwide. In actuality, Monkfish are a type of commercially important Anglerfish in Scandinavian seas. Monkfish differ in appearance, though, to the one portrayed in School of Dragons. The monkfish is mentioned, however, in Dragons: Titan Uprising, as a favored food of Sturmundrang the Thunderclaw.

Arctic Char[]

Arctic Char are a fresh and saltwater species seen in the game, School of Dragons fishing activity. They can be fished for in arctic locations in the game, and were introduced to the game at the release of Icestorm Island.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • The Arctic Char can grow up to about 42 inches and weigh up to 33 pounds.
  • The diet of the Arctic char is mainly composed of small fish, amphipods, planktonic crustaceans, mollusks, and insects.
  • The Arctic Char is a part of the Salmonidae family and is similar to a salmon in appearance.
  • The Arctic Char has an elongated body, a small head, and a lower jaw that sticks out.
  • The Arctic Char's life span is approximately 20-24 years or more.

Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) are in the same Family as Salmon and Trout (Salmonidae) and have a similar appearance and life cycle. Char spawn in freshwater and live in saltwater.

Atlantic Cod[]

Cod was first seen in the How to train Your Dragon Movie, when Hiccup brings a downed Toothless fish to eat. Cod are mentioned here and there throughout the TV series, as well.

Though Hiccup refers to the cod in the movie as an "Icelandic" Cod, it is most likely the Atlantic Cod species. This fish is of great commercial value to Scandinavia.

Mulch mentions cod briefly in the first episode of Dragons: Riders of Berk, "How to Start a Dragon Academy". He instructs Bucket to give Hiccup the cod they obtained for Stoick. However, a Terrible Terror stole half of it.

Hey, we've got some fish for that father of yours. Bucket, give the boy the cod.
  — Mulch in "How to Start a Dragon Academy"  


Cod are also mentioned in various episodes of Dragons: Race to the Edge.

Oh, yeah? Well you smell like a barrel of 20-year-old cod livers. That's what drove them away.
  — Tuffnut to Ruffnut in "The Zippleback Experience"  
Oh, my Thor! Wasn't he the one who could pass an entire cod through one nostril?
  — Twins mentioning Magmar Thorston in "Reign of Fireworms"  


Dagur mentions cod while suggesting a bait for the Thunderfish in "In Plain Sight".

Blindfish[]

Blindfish can be found in the Whispering Death caves underneath Berk in the game, School of Dragons. This location is not immediately available to the player, but is after completion of the Quest "Explore the Dark Depths". No special rod is required to fish this location.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • The blindfish has sensory papilae on its skin that helps it feel where it is going.
  • Blindfish will eat almost anything because food is scarce where they live."
  • Blindfish can grow to be four and a half inches long.
  • Blindfish have no pigmentation, so they look pinkish-white.
  • Blindfish have an average lifespan of 2-10 years.

The term Blind fish is actually used for any number of fish species that can't see or have under-developed eyes. The fish referred to in School of Dragons is most likely Astyanax jordani, which is native to Mexico.

Bream[]

Bream are referenced in the name of the Scauldron individual Breampunk in Dragons: Rise of Berk

Bream are a type of freshwater and saltwater fish that belong to a variety of different genera, including Abramis, Acanthopagrus, Argyrops, Blicca, Brama, Chilotilapia, Etelis, Lepomis, Gymnocranius, Lethrinus, Nemipterus, Pharyngochromis, Rhabdosargus, Scolopsis, and Serranochromis. Although many species from all of these genera are called "bream," they are not closely related to each other genetically. However, many of the fish called breams share similar physical features with one another, as they tend to have narrow and deep bodies.

Brook Trout[]

Hiccup mentions Brook Trout in How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming, while talking about leaving gifts for loved ones - in this case Toothless - during Snoggletog. His offering was Lake Trout ... with a side of Sea Trout ... on a bed of Brook Trout.

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are mainly freshwater fish native to Eastern North America, although they have been introduced elsewhere in the world, including Europe. A few populations do spend part of their life cycles in the ocean or large lakes, rather than stay exclusively in rivers and streams.

Brown Trout[]

Brown Trout are freshwater fish seen in the game, School of Dragons fishing activity. They can be caught in most freshwater fishing locations in the game, and are especially abundant in the Wilderness area near Mulch.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • Brown trouts travel from lakes to rivers and streams to spawn.
  • Brown trout eggs are concealed in a gravely nest called a redd.
  • A female brown trout can lay more than 10,000 eggs!
  • Brown trouts spawn in late autumn. The eggs hatch from the end of April until mid May.
  • Brown trouts have high resilience for warmer water than many other types of fish.
  • A brown trout is a medium-sized fish. It can weigh up to 20 pounds and can grow longer than 20 inches.
  • Most brown trouts have black spots along their dorsal fin, sides and back. A light halo circles each black spot.
  • A brown trout feeds on insect larvae, invertebrates, flying insects, and occasionally other fish and frogs.
  • Brown trout is mainly a freshwater fish, but it can sometimes live in salt water.
  • A brown trout's favored habitats are brooks, lakes, and streams.

Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) are in the same Family as Salmon and Char (Salmonidae) and have a similar shape and life cycle. Some populations of Brown Trout remain in freshwater rivers and streams for their entire life cycle, some populations live in lakes for their entire life, and some populations move to the ocean as adults and return to freshwater to spawn (often called 'Sea Trout'). Native to Europe - including Scandinavia, these fish have been introduced all over the world in suitable habitats.

Trout - not the specific species Brown Trout - is mentioned briefly as a food for dragons in the Dragons: Rescue Riders episode, "Crash Course".

Hiccup mentions both 'Lake Trout' and 'Sea Trout' in How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming, while talking about leaving gifts for loved ones - in this case Toothless - during Snoggletog. His offering was Lake Trout ... with a side of Sea Trout ... on a bed of Brook Trout. It is not clear if he was referring to the lake dwelling morph of Brown Trout or the separate species Salvelinus namaycush, also called Lake Trout.

Copperband Butterflyfish[]

A distinctly marked fish appears in the game, School of Dragons, in the underwater portion of the Ship Graveyard (introduced in the "Secret of the Leviathan" Expansion) as well as in the sea adjacent to Vanaheim during the Expansion, "Wrath of Stormheart". It has a white base with yellow stripes running in a dorsal-ventral direction. Best guess identifies it as a Copperband butterflyfish, though the specimen in the game does not have the characteristic thin beak.

Copperband butterfly fish (Chelmon rostratus) are tropical fish found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans in reef ecosystems. They are often kept as pets or for display in saltwater aquariums.

Deep Water Cod[]

In Dragons: Rescue Riders, this fish is one of the ingredients Leyla uses for her Seven Spice Seafood Surprise. It is resident in the sea around Huttsgalor. Since it resides in great depths, it is considered to be especially hard to catch.

Dolphinfish[]

In the game, Dragon Training Legends, the player must guide a Scauldron through the sea, avoiding Viking trash and eating tasty fish. Though not specifically named, one such fish appears to be a Dolphinfish. They strangely seem to lack the crest-like dorsal fin that the species is known for, but they otherwise look normal.

Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), also known as Mahi-Mahi or Dorado, live in temperate to tropical saltwater worldwide.

Eels[]

See the page Eel (Franchise) for more information.

Flounder[]

Flounders are mentioned as a metaphor for Ruffnut's hair by Throk, as part of a poem in honor of her, in the Dragons: Race to the Edge, Season 5 episode, "Snuffnut". Flounders are not actually seen in the Franchise.

A poem for the modern woman.
Hair, it smells of flounder.
Skin, rough like the coral of a thousand-year-old reef.
Lips, dry as jerky made from the giant clam.
No hand will be severed from this woman,
for she is modern.
She is Ruff.
She is Nut.
She is Ruffnut.
  — Throk  

Goldfish[]

Goldfish are briefly mentioned in the episode "King Burple" by Cutter, when he claims "I've seen goldfish with more meat on them", after being served poorly by Oscar.

Haddock[]

Though no fish specified as haddock are seen, this fish is most notable in the Franchise as being the last name of Hiccup and his family. Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) are located in the oceans all around Scandinavia and are in the same family as Cod.

Halibut[]

Halibut are saltwater fish seen in the game, School of Dragons fishing activity. When fed to dragons, they give 10 energy points to the Dragon.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • Halibuts have very small scales. They cannot be seen because they are enclosed within the skin.
  • The female halibut is considerably bigger than the male halibut.
  • A female halibut weighing over 250 pounds can produce up to four million eggs.
  • A halibut can weight up to 500 pounds or more, and can grow up to 9 feet long.
  • A halibut will feed on almost any animal it can fit into its mouth.
  • The Halibut is the largest known flat fish, with a body shaped like a diamond.
  • Halibuts prefer staying at the bottom of the sea, but will move upwards if the source food is short.
  • Halibuts tend to be a dark brownish color on their upper body and white on their underbelly.
  • Halibuts are born with an eye on each side of their head. Over time,one eye moves to the other side of the head.
  • Female halibuts spawn in the beginning of winter.

Halibut, specifically Atlantic Halibut , are found in the North Atlantic and would have been available to historic Vikings. Halibut is a type of flat fish who lies on its left side and the eyes migrate to the right side of the head as it ages.

Dagur mentions halibut while suggesting a bait for the Thunderfish in "In Plain Sight".

Hawkfish[]

In the game, Dragon Training Legends, the player must guide a Scauldron through the sea, avoiding Viking trash and eating tasty fish. Though not specifically named, one such fish appears to be a Hawkfish.

Hawkfish are members of the Cirrhitidae Family. All members of this family live in tropical waters and would not have been encountered by historical Vikings. The Hawkfish species that most resembles the variety seen in the game is the Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus). While the real fish is significantly smaller and isn't blue in color, the two both share a long nose and a raised back fin. The Longnose Hawkfish can be found on tropical coral reefs in in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where it prefers to live around corals near deep-water drop offs. It is well known for being a common aquarium fish. Many Hawkfish species have some sort of reddish coloring on part or all of their bodies, such as the Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus).

Herring[]

Herring are saltwater fish seen in the game, School of Dragons fishing activity. When fed to dragons, they give 5 energy points to the Dragon. Schools of herring are also seen in Thornado's exclusive Flight Club lessons, which take the player underwater in a reef setting.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • Herrings have a single dorsal fin with no lateral line, and their dorsal fin is not made of spines.
  • Herrings spawn at various times throughout the year, depending on the species and the temperature of the water.
  • Herring keep their mouth open while swimming, filtering plankton for food.
  • Herrings communicate through farts.
  • During the daytime, herrings swim in the deeper depths to avoid predators.

Herrings are also mentioned in Dragons: Rise of Berk. Strangely enough, Mulch states that dragons don't like herring, which is the opposite of School of Dragons.

Herring are also mentioned as a dragon's breakfast item in the episode, "Crash Course" of the Dragons: Rescue Riders series.

The expression "red herring", meaning a bad sign, is used by Tuffnut in Dragons: Titan Uprising.

The Herring encountered by Vikings are the Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus) and are a very important commercial fish worldwide. Humans have been eating Herring for a few millennia, and is the main ingredient in such foods as "Pickled Herring" and "Kippers".

Ice Tail Pike[]

While Pike (Genus Esox) are fish occurring in freshwater in real life, the species "Ice Tail Pike" is fictional. It appears to have the body shape of real pike species and is green with light green to white markings.

It is rare and indigenous to Outcast Island
  — Outcast soldier  


The Ice Tail Pike appears in the Dragons: Race to the Edge, Season 5 episode, "Return of Thor Bonecrusher. Some Dragon Hunter bandits kidnap Alvin the Treacherous and ransom him for these fish in order to feed their army of Singetails.

Later, in Dragons: Race to the Edge, Season 6, Ice Tail Pike are seen frequently in a number of episodes, and are implied to be much more widespread than just Outcast Island. They are also said to be the fish that Singetail dragons mainly eat, and are used by Viggo Grimborn to train them. In No Bark, All Bite, all three traders that Johann sent to Berk without willow bark had this fish as part of their wares.

Now you give me a pair of ice tail pike and I can take down a whole ship full of pirates! Ha! Ha! [src]
  Marena  

Leyla startles Marena at a fishmonger stall and she flips around with two mackerel in her hands, holding them like weapons, in the Dragons: Rescue Riders, Season 1 episode "Boo to You". She insists though that ice tail pike are a much better fish to fight with. The fish is seen in again in the episode "Treasure Riders" when the Rescue Riders catch some for themselves.

Lake Trout[]

Hiccup mentions 'Lake Trout' in How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming, while talking about leaving gifts for loved ones - in this case Toothless - during Snoggletog. His offering was Lake Trout ... with a side of Sea Trout ... on a bed of Brook Trout. It is not clear if he was referring to the lake dwelling morph of Brown Trout or the separate species Salvelinus namaycush, also called Lake Trout.

Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is a freshwater fish occuring in Canada and some Northern states in America, including Alaska. They have been introduced to other parts of the world and are considered good game fish, as well as fish for food.

Mackerel[]

What, ow, you love mackerel!
  Snotlout to Hookfang in "Total Nightmare"  

Mackerel are mentioned here and there in the Franchise, but seen only once in the Dragons: Race to the Edge, Season 1 episode, "Total Nightmare". The fish seen is not an accurate portrayal of a mackerel, but rather the fairly blunt-headed generic fish seen throughout the Franchise.

Mackerel are seen again in the Dragons: Rescue Riders, Season 1 episode "Boo to You", where Marena wields them like weapons. Again, the fish pictured are not an accurate representation of mackerel in real life. They briefly appear again in the episode "Crash Course" when Aggro brings assorted fish to Cutter.

The term "Mackerel" is actually used to describe a number of different species. The species that historical Vikings most likely had contact with is the Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus). These are important food fish that travel in schools near the shores.

Minnow[]

Minnows can be caught in any Freshwater area in the game School of Dragons, and can also be used as bait to caught other fish. Minnows only give a dragon 1 energy point when fed to them.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • A minnow represents any type of small, silvery fish.
  • Minnows are mostly found in freshwater.
  • Minnows are often raised as food for other fish or as bait to catch larger fish.
  • The Minnow's spawning season fall between spring and midsummer.
  • Female minnows lay their eggs on or near the bottom of aquatic plants.
  • Minnows consume larvae, crustaceans, and aquatic insects.
  • Most species of minnows are under four inches long, but can grow up to a size of fourteen inches.
  • Minnows have teeth in their throat to help grind the food they eat.

In the game, Dragon Training Legends, the player must guide a Scauldron through the sea, avoiding Viking trash and eating tasty fish. Though not specifically named, one such fish appears to be a Minnow.

The term "minnow" is actually rather generic, referring to any number of small fish species that are not useful to eat but may be used as bait fish and can be fresh or salt water fishes. There is a Family of freshwater fish that are called "true" minnows - the Cyprinidae. Cyprinidae can also be called the "Carp" Family, in which carp and goldfish are also members.

Northern Wolffish[]

The Northern Wolffish is a saltwater species seen in the game, School of Dragons fishing activity. They can be fished for in arctic locations in the game, and were introduced to the game at the release of Icestorm Island.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • The Northern Wolffish has razor-sharp teeth to help protect it from predators.
  • The Northern Wolffish feeds on crabs, sea urchins, brittle stars, and starfishes.
  • The Northern Wolffish lives in cold waters below 5 degrees Celsius.

A deceased Northern Wolffish is also seen prepared to be eaten among a group of other Viking seafood in the book Look And Find: How to Train Your Dragon.

The Northern Wolffish (Anarhichas denticulatus) is native to the colder waters of the North Atlantic. They are predatory fish, feeding on smaller fish and crustaceans, among other things. They are edible, but their flesh is considered "watery" and are not fished commercially. The Wolffish's populations are in decline, however, because of falling victim to bycatch when fishing for other species.

Ozark Cavefish[]

Ozark Cavefish can be found in the Whispering Death caves underneath Berk in the game, School of Dragons. This location is not immediately available to the player, but is after completion of the Quest "Explore the Dark Depths". No special rod is required to fish this location.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • The Ozark Cavefish is roughly two and a half inches long.
  • Ozark cavefish do not have eyes. They have sensory organs on the head and sides.
  • The Ozark cavefish eats small crustaceans, salamander larvae, and bat guano.
  • The Ozark cavefish is threatened because of pollution, humans, and loss of habitat.
  • Ozark cavefish can live in water with extremely low oxygen levels.
  • The Ozark cavefish lives in total darkness and is blind.

Ozark Cavefish are native to about 15 caves in middle America in or near the Ozark mountains. Historic Vikings would not have encountered this fish at all. This tiny fish is whitish and translucent. It has only rudimentary eyes but no optic nerve. Instead it has highly developed sensory papillae to navigate its pristine cave waters. It subsists on bat dropping and plant material that end up in the caves such as leaf litter and tree roots.

Paradise Fish[]

In the game, Dragon Training Legends, the player must guide a Scauldron through the sea, avoiding Viking trash and eating tasty fish. Though not specifically named, one such fish appears to be a Paradise Fish.

Paradise Fish are actually colorful freshwater members of the Gourami Family, Osphronemidae. They can come in striped reds and blues, but purple varieties have not yet been bred. They are often kept as aquarium fish and are native to Eastern Asia. Vikings would not have encountered Paradise Fish in real life.

Perch[]

Perch are freshwater fish seen in the game, School of Dragons fishing activity. When fed to dragons, they give 5 energy points to the Dragon.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • The perch belong to the Percidae family. It is a freshwater fish.
  • A male perch is darker than the female perch.
  • A perch has a very strong and long spine.
  • Perch breed during the late spring season. They lay eggs onto soft weed beds.
  • Perches feed on crustaceans, aquatic insect larvae, smaller fish, shellfish, and corals.
  • A perch has an average size of about 10-20 inches.
  • The perch are a colorful breed of fish with a row of spines along the dorsal fin.
  • Perch raise their fins to protect themselves when endangered. The spines on the fins are super sharp!

Perch refers to one of three species in the Genus Perca. The species Vikings may have encountered is the European Perch (Perca fluviatilis). They prefer lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers, but have moved into brackish water, fast-flowing rivers, and even low-saline sea areas. Perch are popular for anglers to catch, and is even Finland's official national fish.

Pickerel[]

Pickerel may refer to two species of fish in the Genus Esox - the Chain Pickerel and the American Pickerel. Both live in North America and have long bodies with short fins. They are related to some species of freshwater pike. Pickerel are predators, preying on smaller fish.

Pickerel are mentioned in the episode of "Crash Course" of the Dragons: Rescue Riders series, as one type of fish preferred by Cutter.

Powder Blue Tang[]

Blue fish with a distinctive black face appear in the underwater portion of the Ship Graveyard location in the game, School of Dragons. This area first appeared during the Expansion "Secret of the Leviathan". These fish are conjectured to be Powder Blue Tang, based on their color and markings.

Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon) are tropical oceanic fish occurring in the Indian Ocean around reef areas. Their diet consists mostly of algae. They may be harvested for use in aquariums, but otherwise are not consumed or used for other purposes.

Pufferfish[]

In the game, Dragon Training Legends, the player must guide a Scauldron through the sea, avoiding Viking trash and eating tasty fish. One of these fish is a Pufferfish. In game, as in real life, they can inflate and deflate, with the Scauldron not being able to eat them while they are inflated and their spikes are up.

Pufferfish are any number of species in the Family Tetraodontidae. They are found mainly in tropical regions, and some species can be found in temperate areas. Pufferfish are known for their ability to "puff" up like a balloon when threatened. They do this by sucking in water (or air if out if the sea) into their extremely flexible stomachs. They additionally have some sort of spikes on their bodies, making it even more difficult for potential predators to grab them. Most species also have some level of tetrodotoxin in their tissues, which is lethal to humans.

Rainbow Pike[]

In Dragons: Rescue Riders, this fish is one of the ingredients Leyla uses for her Seven Spice Seafood Surprise. It is resident in the sea around Huttsgalor.

Rainbow Trout[]

In "Treasure Riders", Summer mentioned the Rainbow Trout as a possible meal for the Rescue Riders. However, she opted for Ice Tail Pike instead.

Royal Angelfish[]

A fish appears in the game, School of Dragons, that differs only in color, but strongly resembles in body shape and markings, the Royal Angelfish. Real life Royal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) are tropical marine fish with bold white strips on a yellow and blue wide body.

The similar fish appears swimming around in the underwater cave area near Stormheart's battle ship, The Tempest, which was introduced during the release of the Expansion, "Rise of Stormheart". Another possible Royal Angelfish is seen in the waters off the coast of Vanaheim in the Expansion "Wrath of Storm Heart".

Salmon[]

In How to Train Your Dragon, this fish was fed to Toothless during the second time Hiccup met him in the cove. He placed it in a basket before presenting it to Toothless.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • Different species of salmon have different lifespans. They mostly live for 2-8 years.
  • Salmons vary in color. Some are red, blue, or silver.
  • Grizzly bears often hunt salmons as the fish swim and jump upstream.
  • The size of a salmon is directly related to how old it is.
  • Salmons change in color when they are ready to spawn.
  • Salmons can find where they were born by using their sense of smell. They use familiar ocean currents and tides to go back to their birth place.
  • Salmons swim and jump upstream to their original birthplace to lay and fertilize their eggs.
  • Salmons can swim several thousand miles to spawn.
  • Young salmons eat plankton, invertebrates, and insects. Adult salmons eat fish, eels, shrimps, and squids.
  • When the salmon leaves to enter the stream, it stops eating and only uses stored energy to go on.

Salmon are also seen in the game, School of Dragons, where the player can fish for them in both saltwater and freshwater fishing locations. When fed to a Dragon, the dragon gains 15 energy points.

Salmon is a general term for several species in the Family Salmonidae. Most species occur in the Pacific Ocean and freshwater tributaries to it, but one species, the Atlantic Salmon occurs in the North Atlantic. This is the species Vikings probably encountered. Like most salmon species, the Atlantic Salmon spends most of its adult life in the ocean, then migrated in land to freshwater tributaries to spawn. The fry grow in the freshwater environment, and when old enough travel to the ocean.

Salmon also figure in Norse Mythology. The God Loki transforms into a salmon to escape punishment after he tricked blind Hodr into killing his brother Baldr. The other Gods, however, threw out a net to catch him, and as Loki was jumping over the net as a Salmon, Thor caught him by the tail.

Sea Bass[]

A Sea Bass is seen prepared to eat, heavily salted, by Tuffnut Thorston in the Dragons: Race to the Edge, Season 3 episode, "A Grim Retreat".

The fish pictured is not representative of any sea bass, but rather a generic fish model seen in various shows. In actuality, the term "Sea Bass" is applied to a large number of fish. One species that is sometimes referred to as a sea bass is the European Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Its distribution includes coastal waters around the British Isles, Denmark, and the tip of Sweden, so historic Vikings may very well have feasted on this fish.

'Huttsgalorian Sea Bass' is mentioned in the Dragons: Rescue Riders episode, "Crash Course". While there is no 'Huttsgalorian' species, Sea Bass of many varieties are.

Scrugfish[]

The Scrugfish is a fictitious species seen in the Dragons: Rescue Riders episode, "Grumblegard, Part 1" when Leyla offers a fish to eat to a pair of Baby Shriekscales. It is large, brownish is color, and resembles a grouper fish in appearance.

Shark[]

See the pages Shark and Hammerhead Shark for more information.

Silver Snapper[]

Silver Snapper is one of several names for the Red Porgy (Pagrus pagrus). The term 'snapper' has been used as part of common names for over 100 different fish species. The Red Porgy can be silver color to silver-pink to darker red/pink. They are found in warm water on coastal areas of the Atlantic.

Silver Snapper is seen and named in the Dragons: Rescue Riders episode, "Grumblegard, Part 1" when Leyla offers a fish to eat to a pair of Baby Shriekscales. This fish pictured is not an accurate representation of Pagrus pagrus.

Speckled Bluefish[]

In Dragons: Rescue Riders, this fish is one of the ingredients Leyla uses for her Seven Spice Seafood Surprise. It is resident in the sea around Huttsgalor.

Speckled Cod[]

In "Treasure Riders", Winger mentioned the Speckled Cod as a possible meal for the Rescue Riders. However, he opted for Ice Tail Pike instead.

Sprat[]

Sprat are a small fish occurring in oceans around Europe and Australia. Most species only measure a few inches long. They live in large schools, sometimes with other fish species. They are an important prey fish in their ecosystems, and are very nutritious. They are very oily and are extremely high in Omega-3 fatty acids, comparable to that found in salmon. The European sprat (Sprattus sprattus) occurs in and around the Baltic Sea, and would have been encountered by historic Vikings.

In the Franchise, sprat are only mentioned once in the comic "Dangers of the Deep" by Mildew, during a fishing shortage. He says he has "15 mouths to feed and not a solitary sprat between 'em!"

Stingray[]

See the page Stingray for more information.

Sturgeon[]

A deceased sturgeon dressed like Stoick the Vast is briefly seen in "Fright of Passage". Smoked sturgeon is Viking food mentioned by Gobber the Belch in "Frozen". Bucket and Mulch also begin slapping each other with sturgeons when their bludgeons are stolen by Smothering Smokebreaths in "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". The fish seen is not an accurate portrayal of a sturgeon.

Sturgeons, (Family Acipenseridae) are a group of fish found in both freshwater and saltwater habitats. They are edible fish, but are more widely known in modern times for their caviar. This is one of the great stressors on their populations, as Sturgeons reproduce very slowly. They are long-lived; some species can live for over 100 years.

Tuna[]

Hey! Hookfang, you feeling better? Who wants tuna for breakfast? Hookfang? Hookfang?
  Snotlout in "Total Nightmare"  

A Tuna was named and seen in the Dragons: Race to the Edge, Season 1 episode, "Total Nightmare". The fish seen is not an accurate portrayal of a tuna fish.

An unnamed fish carried as a tribute to the Red Death appears in the How to Train Your Dragon film. This particular fish looks much more similar in size and body style to that of an actual tuna.

In the game, Dragons: Rise of Berk, the legendary dragon Green Death searches for and retrieves items for the player to use to complete "Collections". One such item is a tuna-like fish. This is most likely a reference to the tribute fish seen in the first Movie.

In the online Facebook game Dragon Pets, a tuna appears as one of the possible foods to feed the player's dragons.

Tuna are related to Mackerel, and "true" tuna belong in the Genus Thunnus. Tuna species inhabit temperate to tropical waters, so were probably not encountered by historical Vikings.

Viperfish[]

Viperfish are saltwater fish seen in the game, School of Dragons fishing activity. In game, the player must fly out to sea on a Gronckle with a special Deep-sea fishing rod to catch these fish. Only Gronckles can be used, because they are able to hover on one place over the sea.

Fish Facts quoted from School of Dragons:

  • A viperfish has a huge stomach that can expand up to twice its size. It can use it to stock up on food.
  • Viperfish live 5,000 feet below the ocean, but some have been found in shallow waters of 250 feet.
  • Viperfish swim at high speeds at their prey and puncture them with sharp teeth.
  • Viperfish have many photophores, light producing organs, located along the side of its body.
  • Viperfish are known to eat other fish, shrimps, mackerels, and hermit crabs.

Viperfish are members of the Genus Chauliodus and live primarily in the deep ocean. They are rarely seen and typically live in temperate or tropical waters, meaning Vikings probably never encountered these fish.

Yellow Tang[]

In the game, Dragon Training Legends, the player must guide a Scauldron through the sea, avoiding Viking trash and eating tasty fish. While not specifically named, one such fish appears to be a Yellow Tang.

Yellow Tangs (Zebrasoma flavescens) are tropical saltwater fish found in coral reef environments. Historic Vikings would not have encountered these fish. Due to their small size (about 7-8 inches) they have little edible use, but are often seen in freshwater aquariums.

Yellowtail Pike[]

There is, in real life, fishes colloquially called Yellowtail Pike in Australia, but are in fact a type of barracuda - either the Yellowtail Barracuda or the Obtuse barracuda. Both have long, thin body shapes, with yellow tails and varying amounts of yellow on silver bodies. These barracuda live in the warm oceans around Australia.

Yellowtail Pike are seen on multiple occasions in the Dragons: Rescue Riders series. It is a favorite fish of the Slobber Smelter due to the yellow coloring it has.

Appearances[]

The appearances of fish are so numerous across all forms of media that it is not practical to list them all. Below includes an excerpt of appearances, but are by no means all-inclusive.

How to Train Your Dragon[]

The first ever appearance of fish is in the first movie. The most notable scene is when Hiccup observes the injured Toothless attempting to catch fish from a pond, and then later brings him fish in an attempt to befriend him.

Elsewhere in the franchise, fish are often seen as food for either humans or dragons, and sometimes bait for traps.

Dragons: Rescue Riders[]

Fish are a common sight with Elbone since he's a fisherman. Otherwise they're often seen in Huttsgalor and The Roost as food.

Dragons: The Nine Realms[]

After Tom's numerous failed attempts to find out what dragons eat, after feeding Thunder frozen fish nuggets he finds out that's what dragons eat. So whenever the Dragon Club needs to feed their dragons they simply give them fish to eat.

Fish are also some of the other no dragon creatures to live in the Hidden World however they look very different from the ones on the surface and are possibly completely new species.

Games[]

DreamWorks Dragons: Wild Skies[]

Fish can be gotten by purchasing a fishing rod and fishing for them at various locations. They are then used for luring dragons before training them.

Dragons: Rise of Berk[]

In this game, dragons help Berk fish. Fish is used for leveling up dragons, clearing trees and forests and upgrading the Wood Stack or Sawmill. Fish are stored in the Fish Basin.

School of Dragons[]

Fish is used for feeding dragons and in the fishing player activity.

One Farm Job asks the player to harvest corn because "Mulch needs to refill his corn bait supply." As Mulch is a fisherman, he apparently uses corn as fish bait.

References[]

Fish (Franchise) uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the Dreamworks School of Dragons Wiki page Fish. The list of authors can be found on the page revision history (view authors). SODWikiLogo

Site Navigation[]

Advertisement