'Fish' or 'fishes' to describe more than one fish? Any opinions?

[Beetle73]

It seems to me that fish should be used for dead ones, but then again Jesus did clever things with a loaf and 5 fishes, which I guess were dead.
what should I call them when they're swimming about in a tank?
Anyone have a rule or an opinion on this burning issue?

Are'nt a group of fish called a spool? I think

I thought that was a thing for a sewing machine.

Fishes - but I'm not saying that's correct, just what I prefer...although tbh I'm not sure I care! - why do you ask?

it is late

If you are talking about more than one fish of the same species it's "fish" if
you are talking about more than one species of fish then it's "fishes"

and the collective noun is "school"

Ahhhhhhhhh, knew it was something like that.

Blimey - am stunned and more that a little awed. Might just remember that for the future.

That sounds logical Geekgirl. You've lived up to your name.

I thank you.

I always thought fishes should be used when the actual number was specified - eg 5 loaves and 2 fishes, whereas fish was for an unspecified number.

I think you wouldn't say 'all the fishes in the ocean' even though there are multiple types.

oh no! A curved ball from Snorkle.

but I am right and snorkle's wrong.
;)

Just google plural fish and you will find the rules.

Blimey geekgrrl that is a really blinding piece of useless but impressive information. Am plotting situations where it would be necessary to reveal said knowledge - trip to the Aquarium anybody?

Snorkle is right though

"plenty more fishes in the sea" does not quite cut it

Spooky, I was having the same dilemma the other day!

Definitely not fishes!

The English language isn't "perfect" though is it?

Plural of sheep should be sheeps but isn't.

I stand corrected. Very interesting though - and Beetle I think you are right about the dead ones too as when refering to the meat the plural is fish regardless of how many types there are.

Grasping at straws here in support of my theory: I did find that according to the Concise Oxford Dictionary: "The collective plural fish is now usual, but the older form fishes is still used" and in another place:

The plural of fish is fishes when considered individually, and fish when considered collectively. "My three pet fishes feed out of my hand." "Six barrels of fish were landed from the schooner."

This suggests to me that formerly 'fish' was a collective and 'fishes' might have been used once in the way that I described as a plural for specific fish. However the vast majority support geekgrrl especially in scientific usage.