Can fish mourn?
- Thread starter alyssia
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hatessushi
Active Member
I would say no, the fish doesn't mourn in the sense that we understand mourning. I think it would be safe to say that the sixline out of habit hung out with the Kole. The Kole is gone and the habit is forced broken so the sixline is uncertain and acting that way. Maybe he saw the Kole as his safety blanket he got used to for so long.
Sorry to hear your Kole died.
Sorry to hear your Kole died.
hatessushi
Active Member
But the sixline wrasse and Kole Tang are totaly different species. I would hardly think there could be an emotional attachment between 2 of different species let alone an emotional attachment at all but I could be wrong. I just think that with fish everything they do is out of instinct.
durgeonman
Member
I think they do mourn. It almost makes sence. Many times fish seam to make friends with eachother, so if one does go its possable the other will be sad for a while. And im almost sure mated pairs mourn there loss. I once had a pair of Pygmy Angels for about six months. Then one got a cloudy-eye and died. After that the other refused to eat and it wasted away. needless to say i was crushed as well.
lion_crazz
Active Member
I would say yes, they can mourn, just as they form bonds and companionships.
When I first introduced my unicorn tang to my tank, he was tiny. My squirrel and angel tried picking on him a lot, but my batfish went after the two first trying to pick on the tang. Now, the tang does not leave the batfish's side, even though the other fish never pick on the unicorn anymore. They swim together almost constantly. When the batfish has a sheet of nori hanging out of its mouth, he will not let the angel or kole tang pick at it, but he does not turn away when the unicorn goes to pick at it. I truly think my unicorn and batfish have formed a bond of friendship.
By the way, I am very sorry to hear about your kole tang.
When I first introduced my unicorn tang to my tank, he was tiny. My squirrel and angel tried picking on him a lot, but my batfish went after the two first trying to pick on the tang. Now, the tang does not leave the batfish's side, even though the other fish never pick on the unicorn anymore. They swim together almost constantly. When the batfish has a sheet of nori hanging out of its mouth, he will not let the angel or kole tang pick at it, but he does not turn away when the unicorn goes to pick at it. I truly think my unicorn and batfish have formed a bond of friendship.
By the way, I am very sorry to hear about your kole tang.
sharkbait9
Active Member
Originally Posted by xDave
IMO yes they do. Marine animals have complicated social structures. Several species mate for life when up here it's quite rare. It isnt much of a stretch of imagination that they may develop friendships as well. Especially in a alien environment as like communal captivity.
I have to agree with x on this. My YT and CB don't leave each others side. I pulled the coral beauty out for a hypo treatment (saw it flick some rocks for a couple of days, take no chances) and for the three weeks the YT just hung out sad and hid a lot only coming out to pick on some algae sheets but not tearing into it like she normally does. The CB acted the same way, just depressed. After I brought the CB up to DT levels and she was dripped acclimated back to DT levels again. Once she was placed back into the DT she went and hid for a couple of minutes and then straight back, side by side chillen and happy again. Still sleeping together behind the rock work. Every morning act3 lights click on here they come out and about.
I can only imagine what would happen if one should pass or gets moved out. For three weeks they both acted depressed. IDK maybe cause the Hospital tank is right next to the DT, maybe the saw each other and that prolonged their.
Sorry for your loss
IMO yes they do. Marine animals have complicated social structures. Several species mate for life when up here it's quite rare. It isnt much of a stretch of imagination that they may develop friendships as well. Especially in a alien environment as like communal captivity.
I have to agree with x on this. My YT and CB don't leave each others side. I pulled the coral beauty out for a hypo treatment (saw it flick some rocks for a couple of days, take no chances) and for the three weeks the YT just hung out sad and hid a lot only coming out to pick on some algae sheets but not tearing into it like she normally does. The CB acted the same way, just depressed. After I brought the CB up to DT levels and she was dripped acclimated back to DT levels again. Once she was placed back into the DT she went and hid for a couple of minutes and then straight back, side by side chillen and happy again. Still sleeping together behind the rock work. Every morning act3 lights click on here they come out and about.
I can only imagine what would happen if one should pass or gets moved out. For three weeks they both acted depressed. IDK maybe cause the Hospital tank is right next to the DT, maybe the saw each other and that prolonged their.
Sorry for your loss
alyssia
Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
I would say yes, they can mourn, just as they form bonds and companionships.
When I first introduced my unicorn tang to my tank, he was tiny. My squirrel and angel tried picking on him a lot, but my batfish went after the two first trying to pick on the tang. Now, the tang does not leave the batfish's side, even though the other fish never pick on the unicorn anymore. They swim together almost constantly. When the batfish has a sheet of nori hanging out of its mouth, he will not let the angel or kole tang pick at it, but he does not turn away when the unicorn goes to pick at it. I truly think my unicorn and batfish have formed a bond of friendship.
By the way, I am very sorry to hear about your kole tang.
That's a cute story!
Thanks, IDK what happened, the kole just disappeared.
I would say yes, they can mourn, just as they form bonds and companionships.
When I first introduced my unicorn tang to my tank, he was tiny. My squirrel and angel tried picking on him a lot, but my batfish went after the two first trying to pick on the tang. Now, the tang does not leave the batfish's side, even though the other fish never pick on the unicorn anymore. They swim together almost constantly. When the batfish has a sheet of nori hanging out of its mouth, he will not let the angel or kole tang pick at it, but he does not turn away when the unicorn goes to pick at it. I truly think my unicorn and batfish have formed a bond of friendship.
By the way, I am very sorry to hear about your kole tang.
That's a cute story!
Thanks, IDK what happened, the kole just disappeared.
hatessushi
Active Member
I guess you could call it mourning but that's just our way of expaining their reaction to a change in routine, habit, or instinct. I will buy that they "mourn" the loss. We can never actually know without real communication or understanding. Maybe someone like a marine biologist could answer for sure but in the mean time I will go with what you all say.
torno
Member
I think they actually do. I woke up to find my rock beauty angelfish dead today. My tomini tang and him were pretty good friends for the period I had them. They would always swim next to each other and pick algae off the glass. Today, the tang is a light color and has been hiding. He misses his buddy...
alyssia
Active Member
Originally Posted by Torno
I think they actually do. I woke up to find my rock beauty angelfish dead today. My tomini tang and him were pretty good friends for the period I had them. They would always swim next to each other and pick algae off the glass. Today, the tang is a light color and has been hiding. He misses his buddy...
Sorry for your loss.
I think they actually do. I woke up to find my rock beauty angelfish dead today. My tomini tang and him were pretty good friends for the period I had them. They would always swim next to each other and pick algae off the glass. Today, the tang is a light color and has been hiding. He misses his buddy...
Sorry for your loss.
imurnamine
Active Member
I think anything that is alive and that has voluntary movement can mourn a loss...
xdave
Active Member
Heres an article about a Panda that accidentally killed one of its babies.Sad Panda This is sort of an interesting spin. The baby is only 2 days old and she is an inexperienced mother so the acting sad do to the change in routine is questionable, especially since that was one of twins so she is still doing her new motherly duties.
promisetbg
Active Member
I watched a great show the other night on the Science channel about new scientific research and a new way of thinking about animals in general. Science has always said in the past that animals do not have emotions and act only by instinct. They are now learning from dolphins, monkeys,dogs , rats, etc., and are beginning to take a look at others in a new way. It was fascinating...they showed how animals play and actually"laughed" when tickled. It takes more of a thinking brain to play, than just instinct. They showed dolphins playing "pass the seaweed"..LOL.
We have a large RS sailfin at the shop we named Cyndi Lauper{because she 'wears' spots and stripes
}, I only work there parttime now, so I don't get in very often any more. That fish knows me..and always reacts and displays when I get to the shop like a dog that has'nt seen you all day. I have a Tomini tang and added a foxface and they buddied up. The other day I added a Bellus angel and she instantly took to the tang as well. So now the three of them swim in a row..it's very cute.
We have a large RS sailfin at the shop we named Cyndi Lauper{because she 'wears' spots and stripes
xdave
Active Member
My spiteful dog made a fool out of me.
I stepped on my dogs foot once and she walked with a limp for 3 days, and really sucked up the attention. She got major sympathy from everyone.Then I noticed she was switching the limping foot to whatever side of her I was on. AH HA! It takes a lot smarter dog than that to fool me for more than 3 days.
I stepped on my dogs foot once and she walked with a limp for 3 days, and really sucked up the attention. She got major sympathy from everyone.Then I noticed she was switching the limping foot to whatever side of her I was on. AH HA! It takes a lot smarter dog than that to fool me for more than 3 days.