Symbiote

The Symbiote is an aggressive fauna species known for living in a symbiotic relationship with the Titan Holefish.

Overview

Item Data

Raw Symbiote

• Type: Food & Water
• Description: Small, aggressive fish.
• Size: 1 (1×1)
• Bioreactor: +210 Energy
• Food: +4
• Water: -1
• Debug ID: symbiote

Cooked Symbiote

• Type: Food & Water
• Description: A clean, lean meal, tastes like reconstituted lobster.
• Size: 1 (1×1)
• Bioreactor: +157.5 Energy
• Food: +23
• Water: +3
• Debug ID: cookedsymbiote

Cured Symbiote

• Type: Food & Water
• Description: Odorless but sour.
• Size: 1 (1×1)
• Bioreactor: +118.3 Energy
• Food: +23
• Water: -2
• Debug ID: curedsymbiote

Appearance

The Symbiote's body is small and divided into two distinct parts: the short but wide anterior region and the long, thin translucent posterior region.

The anterior region features a sharp black beak and a pair of orange eyes with black, horizontal pupils. Three slim red fins protrude from just behind this region, each tapering to a point and situated at 120-degree intervals.

The posterior region, from the red fins down, is drastically different from the anterior part. It is composed of red, translucent tissue through which the ribs and spinal column are visible. Four pairs of small, translucent black spikes protrude from the body on the dorsal and ventral sides. Towards the posterior end, the red flesh near the caudal fin transitions to black, then transitions again to blue.

Behavior

These small aggressive creatures live in a symbiotic relationship with the Titan Holefish. Symbiotes lay their eggs within a blue gel-like substance in the tail hollow of the Titan Holefish. Here, the eggs can extract the nutrients and oxygen needed to grow. In return, adult Symbiotes form shoals around the Titan Holefish, attacking any potential predators that come close and removing parasites from the Titan's body. If the Titan Holefish the Symbiotes protect dies, they will proceed to "eat" the Titan Holefish, attacking the corpse repeatedly.

If a Symbiote is picked up by hand, it has a chance to be caught. However, if it is not caught successfully, it will bite the player and free itself. They can be safely picked up with the Propulsion Cannon, the Seatruck Aquarium Module, or when dead.

Data Bank Entry

Symbiote

A small, fast predator which nests inside the hole of the titan holefish and defends them at all costs.

• Symbiotes feed mostly on over-confident predators which attack the titan holefish
• Expending huge energy reserves to move quickly and strike their targets, the symbiote is dependent on receiving additional warmth and oxygen from the titan holefish
• Symbiotes lay their eggs inside the gills of the titan holefish
• The waste left behind is absorbed by the titan, constituting all the nutrients it needs to survive

Assessment: Catch or neutralize to approach the titan holefish

Source: Scan

Design

The beak of the Symbiote is very similar in structure to the beaks of birds within the family Psittacidae, aka parrots. The behavior of the Symbiote towards the Titan Holefish resembles the cleaning behaviors displayed by several real-world animals.

Sounds

• Bite
• Death
• Flinch
• Fast swim (1-9)
• Slow swim (1-8)

Gallery

Side view

Front view

Dorsal view

In hand

Size comparison to the player

A Symbiote defending a Titan Holefish in the Sparse Arctic

A Symbiote wriggling in the player's hand upon being grabbed

Symbiote holding animations

Concept Art

Model from Sketchfab

Trivia

• The Symbiote and the Titan Holefish are the fifth set of creatures shown in a symbiotic relationship. The first four (most in the original game) are the Crashfish and the Sulfur Plant, the Crabsnake and the Jellyshroom, the Sea Emperor Leviathan and the Peepers inside its aquarium, and the Ventgarden and the Spiral Plant.