lyndatu

Are fish social creatures? Do they interact or chat with each other? Do they get lonely? Do some fish school because they don't want to be alone, or is it instinct? Will a guppy feel lonely alone in a 10 gallon tank? Or, would they be happy to be alone because they don't need to compete for food and attention? Do they need friends? Thanks in advance!

Chief_waterchanger

Those are all questions scientists have been toiling with for decades.

Some species of fish are social creatures, in my opinion.

The larger cichlids have larger brains and are more likely to be able to have thought processes beyond, "food!" Infact, Dino had a blackbelt cichlid that was in a tank by his door for several years, I believe. If the blackbelt didn't recognize who was coming in it would splash water at the person. If that is not higher thought processes than "food!" I don't know what is.

I'm sure they communicate somehow, whether it be vocally or physically through body movements and color changes. If you'll notice most fish change colors based on moods.

Guppies for instance: they dull down their colors when stressed, they tend to brighten up when ready to breed.


As far as specific feelings I couldn't begin to claim to know, nor could anyone else, really. There is no way for us to definatively prove that a guppy feels lonely or not. There are ways to test for what we perceive as lonely, but that may not be loneliness the guppy is feeling when we think it is.

darkwolf29a

I think they can sense their environment changing.

I think some prefer the company of like individuals. I also see that some fish have more personality than others. I find guppies and Daffodil cichlids to be rather unthinking, more of an instinctual creature.

But, if you look at an Oscar...mine can tell when I'm sitting at my desk, and knows how to get my attention, when he wants it or needs it.

My BNs are very social creatures, as are my corys.

Yes, I do think they have some brain activity, some more than others. And I do think that they are very social, as a whole.

Allie

They seem to be....think about it. There has to be a ton of them in their natural habitat so I'd think that'd be lonely for them. Plus you can tell by the way that certain species interact. We had an Oscar who loved me and hated my bf...he'd make cranky faces at him when he'd put his fist up at him (jokingly of course)

Bishop169

I noticed my guppies tend to group together at night... I may be mistaken but it seems most days they play together....

COBettaCouple

I think most fish are social creatures, definitely. A lot of aquarium fish need buddies, more do than don't it seems.