In fish markets, you can often find not gutted pink salmon. If you are interested in purchasing a female with caviar, then you will need to memorize its distinctive features.
It is necessary
- - encyclopedia of fish
- - access to the Internet
Instructions
Step 1
Pay attention to the color of the fish if you are buying fresh or chilled fish. Without ice, the color of the scales is easier to distinguish, and even with the naked eye you can understand that some fish have a dense color of dark shades. As a rule, these are males. In turn, in females, the color of the scales is lighter, faded. The difference is especially visible on the dorsum: males have a brighter gradient from the back to the abdomen, while in females it is smoother.
Step 2
Identify the prospective male and female. We need a male in order to confirm our guesses. Place the two fish together so that they touch the sides and edge of the gills. See which fish has a shorter nose. In theory, the shortest-headed individual would be the female. In addition, the female's head is also more round in shape. In the male, the jaw is more extended and predatory.
Step 3
Turn the fish belly up and take a closer look. If you are choosing fresh frozen fish, try melting an edge of ice on a small area of the belly with your index finger. You need to see if there is a pinkish tinge on the abdomen that is typical for females.
Step 4
If you choose fresh or chilled fish, then ask the seller's permission to press on the belly. If, with a light touch of the abdomen, you feel tightness, then most likely there is caviar in it. In females that were caught before spawning, eggs often come out involuntarily.
Step 5
Turn the fish over and if the opening on the belly is widened and surrounded by a bright pink or reddish halo, then this most likely also indicates that there is caviar in the belly.
Step 6
Find images of female pink salmon in special fish culture literature or on the Internet if you find it difficult to distinguish color shades of scales or visually determine the shape of the head. By examining images of females with caviar, it will be easier for you to find a fertilized individual at the fish counter. As a last resort, use the advice of the seller, who will surely give the right advice based on experience.
