Barbels are thin whisker-like appendages that some fish, especially barbs and catfish, may have around the mouth area. Barbels are sensitive areas, which are used to locate and 'taste' food before consumption. This is a particularly useful function when searching through substrates or scavenging amongst vegetation to find food. In the case of bottom dwelling fish with barbels it is important to make sure that the substrate is fine and/or rounded in order to avoid damage to the barbells, which can lead to bacterial infections.