Do Fish Have Friends?

Lately I've been reading What a fish knows: the inner lives of our underwater cousins, by Jonathan Balcombe. Basically, fish are more mentally and psychologically complicated than most people give them credit for (but a lot of people in this forum will agree!). Do they feel pain? Yes. Do they remember stuff? Of course. Can they learn things? Again: of course.

So I am watching my fish these days more open-mindedly.

Recently I removed two of my goldfish from my main tank overnight to a breeding tank. The shubunkin who was left behind was swimming around kind of "frantically" looking for his "school" (one interpretation, although goldfish don't apparently school in a strong way). The male oranda I moved to the breeding tank seemed kind of scared there (he hid in the spawning mops). When I moved him back to the main tank, he just hung out at the bottom for a while (traumatized?), and the male shubunkin, who had stayed in the main tank, kept him company on the bottom for quite a long time. At least 15 minutes, maybe longer (see my avatar photo).

One possible interpretation is that goldfish like to be around other goldfish, or at least familiar tank-mates, or feel safer when they are, and the shubunkin was "uncomfortable" when he was the only goldfish in the tank. Another interpretation is that the shubunkin missed his friend. What is the right, or the more-right interpretation? Have other people seen friendships between or among their fish?

 

I separated my male and female platies...the 2 of them were miserable and pouted. Normal behavior as soon as I put them back together after a couple days. They pined for each other.

 

Just read that. My dad got it for me, actually. They do, for sure. I had 6 Colombian Tetras together for 2 years. Found one dead the other day, got out the net, ready to take him out. The survivors circled him as if they were mourning him. I was pretty moved, actually.

 

Defiantly think they do. I don't have much expierence with multiple goldfish but my weather loaches are brutal for that. My female always hung out with my ropefish. I got her a friend and they hung out, leaving the poor rope all alone and he was miserable. Swimming back and forth all alone... Now I got a third, a male, and the original female is back with her old friend the rope while the two newest snuggle.the rope is happy again with his "girlfriend" (90% sure on the sexes of everyone) It really is hilarious watching all my fish interact with each other and the wicked bizarre hierarchy(?) that goes on between everyone.

 

It's crazy. You know who's on top of the chain if you watch them for long enough. Especially in a community setting.

 

"I had 6 Colombian Tetras together for 2 years. Found one dead the other day, got out
the net, ready to take him out. The survivors circled him as if they were mourning him."

That's really interesting. Do fish understand mortality in any way, and do they honour their dead? Or do they "just" miss their friend?

 

More of the missing. They lost their colors ALL day. Barely moved. They were sad, for sure.

 

So mid summer I bought my fish in a group of 5 cosmo goldfish. They were originally for an outdoor pond in my backyard. That went great for a while but I got sick of having to go outside to enjoy them so I got a big aquarium for my livingroom AND moved my yard fountain into my livingroom. Now I have a new aquarium and moved 2 of the original five in there along with a fish that my bf won for me at the carnival in October. But I'm wondering if it wld be better to move the red fin shark into the new aquarium by himself so that I can keep the 5 together as they have always been. Will they miss each other?

 

How big are the tanks?

As for whether they'll miss each other, it's hard to say, but I do know goldfish have been known to develop relationships with one another. I don't know if it would actually impact their health though.

 

I’d keep them together if I were you but that’s just me.

 

Idk what a Cosmo Goldfish is. I tried to do a quick search but didn't come up with anything. I'm guessing you mean Comet Goldfish? They each will get a foot long. I'd say you probably would need at least a 150? maybe as large as a 300 to house them? That still might not be enough. They get big. I would have kept them in the pond personally.

For a red fin shark, I'm assuming you mean a red tail shark? They get pretty large and can be pretty aggressive. They need decent size tanks and will probably bully the goldfish.

 

Fish are friends, not food... lol jk, but anyway how many gallons is your fish tank?

 

old tank




New tank.
I was thinking tho that maybe it be best to just put the shark in byhimself? He doesn't have any friends . he stays all alone in his cave all the time anyways.

 

old tank View attachment 404012View attachment 404012
View attachment 404013
New tank.
I was thinking tho that maybe it be best to just put the shark in byhimself? He doesn't have any friends . he stays all alone in his cave all the time anyways.

sorry to ask but is that a reptile cave you put in or an aquatic cave made for fish? just curious as I am debating on whether or not to put my reptile cave in

 

Idk what a Cosmo Goldfish is. I tried to do a quick search but didn't come up with anything. I'm guessing you mean Comet Goldfish? They each will get a foot long. I'd say you probably would need at least a 150? maybe as large as a 300 to house them? That still might not be enough. They get big. I would have kept them in the pond personally.

For a red fin shark, I'm assuming you mean a red tail shark? They get pretty large and can be pretty aggressive. They need decent size tanks and will probably bully the goldfish.

I had hearsd that about the shark too but so far I hadn't noticed that. They all seem to get along really well. Yhe CometS all chill together and the shark minds his buisness and stays in his cave . so far. They have been peacefully co-existing for a few months now.

Ill be perfectly honest...I have no idea. Its little and perfect size for my fish to hide in. And he LOVES it. I found it at a yard sale and washed it well with hot water, a wire brush and no soap first.

sorry to ask but is that a reptile cave you put in or an aquatic cave made for fish? just curious as I am debating on whether or not to put my reptile cave in

 

my cordydora is more scared after 2 other corydora died

 

my cordydora is more scared after 2 other corydora died

How can you tell?

 

That tank is waaaaaaay too small. 300 gallons for 2 comets is good. I would upgrade tank size, move back to the pond, or rehome the goldfish. Also, redtail sharks like their water a bit warmer than goldfish so I wouldn't do it.

 

Tank is definitely too small. 300 gallons for 2 comets is overkill but they should have 75 gallons of space at the very least.
Your fish will be happiest if you upgrade your tank or rehome them to someone with a large tank or pond.

 

How can you tell?

back then I get close theyre not scared. now he hides when I'm close. but u really can't tell. I think its most body language now and how healthy they look

 

back then I get close theyre not scared. now he hides when I'm close. but u really can't tell. I think its most body language now and how healthy they look

That's happening because cories feel safest in groups of 6+ of their own subspecies. You need to have at least 6 for cories to act somewhat naturally.