Bladderfish (Below Zero)

Overview

The Bladderfish is a small, passive fauna species in Subnautica: Below Zero. It stands out among other small fish because it can be used to craft Filtered Water, making it an excellent source of H₂O. Eating a raw Bladderfish restores fifteen points of Oxygen.

Being slow and passive, Bladderfish are easy to catch, especially during nighttime when they become nearly immobile due to their diurnal nature.

Appearance

The Bladderfish is a small creature with a long, extremely thin main body featuring large translucent bladders on the top and bottom. These bladders have slim tube-like structures protruding from their outer edges that undulate as the fish moves.

• Head: Bright orange and ovular, possessing a pair of large eyes but no mouth.
• Bladders: Emit a faint violet bioluminescent glow.
• Body: Pale red with light blue spots.

Behavior

The Bladderfish swims by contracting and expanding its bladders, constantly altering its speed between fast and slow. It will flee from the player upon being approached.

Uses in Crafting

Fabricator Recipes

Raw Bladderfish

• Type: Food & Water
• Description: Unique outer membrane has potential as a natural water filter.
• Size: 1 (1×1)
• Stats:
  • Bioreactor: +175 Energy
  • Food: +9
  • H₂O: -4
  • O₂: +15

Cooked Bladderfish

• Type: Food & Water
• Description: Spongy. Gristly. Low calorie count. Thankfully odorless.
• Size: 1 (1×1)
• Stats:
  • Bioreactor: +131.25 Energy
  • Food: +16
  • H₂O: +4
  • O₂: +0

Cured Bladderfish

• Type: Food & Water
• Description: Reminiscent of jerky. Dehydrating, but keeps well.
• Size: 1 (1×1)
• Stats:
  • Bioreactor: +98.7 Energy
  • Food: +16
  • H₂O: -2
  • O₂: +0

Data Bank Entry

This unusual herbivore appears to be mostly defenseless and bears little resemblance to other lifeforms around it.

1. Semi-permeable Bladder: The bladderfish filters air and seawater into its body cavity through a unique membrane surrounding its spine like a bladder. This allows it to remove and consume organic particulate caught on the way and adjust its buoyancy.
2. Open-ended Vascular Tubing: Can be angled and contracted to pump out water and achieve low-velocity, guided propulsion.

Largely oblivious to threats and practically immobile at night, its only identified defense mechanism is that it is composed almost entirely of water, air, and cartilage.

Assessment: Edible (oxygen may be retrieved from the bladder and added to tanks on consumption); membrane has applications as a natural water filter.

Locations

The Bladderfish is found in the following biomes:

• [Arctic Spires](/wiki/arctic-spires)
• Crystal Caves
• Main Crystal Caves
• Deep Purple Vents
• East Arctic
• Glacial Basin
• Underwater Caves
• Glacial Bay
• Glacial Connection
• Lilypad Islands
• Main Lilypad Islands
• Lilypad Islands Caves
• Purple Vents
• Shallow Twisty Bridges
• Thermal Spires
• Twisty Bridges
• West Arctic

It can also be found at Marguerit Maida's Base.

Gallery

• Size comparison with the player:
• In Shallow Twisty Bridges:
• In Twisty Bridges:
• In Thermal Spires:
• In Purple Vents:
• In Lilypad Islands:
• In Underwater Caves:
• In Deep Purple Vents:
• In Crystal Caves:
• Concept Art:
• Model from Sketchfab: