There Are 10 Fish in a Tank Riddle Answer Explained
If you hang out on social media or swap riddles with friends, you might've tripped over this one: The “10 fish in a tank” riddle. Simple as it sounds, it’s got people second-guessing their math—and their logic. Spoiler alert: it’s not really about numbers, but about thinking outside the tank (pun intended).
Question
So here’s how the riddle usually goes:
There are 10 fish in a tank. Two drown, four swim away, and three die. How many fish are left?
At first glance, it sounds like you just grab a calculator. But hold up—you might want to reconsider before you start subtracting fish.
Answer
- All 10 fish are still left in the tank.
Answer Explanation
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Let’s break it down, because this riddle is all about hidden assumptions—not arithmetic:
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Fish do not drown. Unlike people or many other animals, fish have gills for breathing underwater. It’s a trick statement!.
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The fish can’t “swim away.” If they’re in a tank, they’re… well, stuck in the tank. There’s nowhere to go unless someone physically takes them out.
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Three fish die, but dead fish don’t magically vanish. They’re still in the tank unless removed—possibly floating, but still present.
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So, you started with 10 fish. No fish left the tank, dead or alive. The clever part of the riddle is how it plays with words and expectations. You’re supposed to get tricked into subtracting, but in reality, every single one is still there.
