Single fish tanks -lonely or bored?

[BichirMohawk]

What do you guys think about single fish tanks with fish that are solitary/territorial in nature? ( leopard ctenopoma, beta, etc) Would the fish benefit from companionship and be less bored? I see people keeping large fish like oscars and flowerhorns solo and it makes me wonder if fish have intelligence capacity to feel lonely or bored.

 

[fishhead0103666]

I don't think the majority of fish are advanced enough to feel loneliness. Now go look at a killer whale or dolphin and you can clearly see that they are advanced enough to feel it. With fish that naturally tend to stay away from others, they do that for a reason. Some are aggressive, some just like to stay by themselves. Lets look at bettas since you threw that name out. The betta you can walk into any pet store is betta splendons (?) now if you look around on google, you'll eventually find another type of betta, I'm sorry but I can't remember the name, that will actually live in groups with no aggression whatsoever. Seeing that you will realize that it's not as simple as what you think. You can easily get a very aggressive betta that the species is normally peaceful and loves living in groups. You could get a very passive betta splendons (?) that will live with anyone. It can come down to an individual basis.

I hope I made sense, it's 2:25 am where I am and I'm pretty tired but I wanted to write this.

 

[BichirMohawk]

Thanks for your input, it makes sense

 

[fishhead0103666]

I'm glad even in this sleep deprived state I'm able to be of some help .

 

[skjl47]

Hello; This question will likely boil down to what people happen to think or feel about it. Some seem to feel fish have similar emotions to our own. Others, like myself, think this is not the case.
Many think some fish school as a result of predation. I have noticed in my tanks that when all is calm my groups of schooling fish are likely to be moving around at random as individuals. When something happens in or around the tank they will tend to school. I guess if you want to have the schoolers in a school formation most of the time then have them in with a fish that makes them a bit nervous.
For territorial fish it is my take that for the most part they try to run other fish out of a territory. To me that would indicate they are likely fine with being alone.

Over the decades I have started out with groups of fish and with time have wound up with single survivors. The singletons have done well.

 

[duanes]

There are many betta species, and few are in the constant fight mode, it comes down to how the fish have evolved in nature, Betta splendors live in rice paddies where space and resources are limited, and where water quality cannot support many in a small area. Bettas like the ones below come from totally different type environments, and can be kept together.
Betta albimarginatta

and below Betta edithae

These are mouthbrooders.


There are some cichlids that are shoaling type, but if not kept in that situation, or in small tanks become belligerent and, display aberrant, non-typical behavior.
Bored being an anthropomorphic term, but especially with highly evolved species may not be far from the truth.

Above are Cribroheros rostrum, where if put in too small a tank, as an individual with other single cichlid species, often becomes highly aggressive.
But if kept in a large tank in a shoal of its own kind, can be quite mild mannered, and show natural behavior.

 

[BichirMohawk]

thanks for your input guys

 

[nzafi]

Depends on the fish. I have kept most solitary fish and I can tell you they do not feel lonely. There was a video of I think kissing gourami on youtube where the guy had 2 for many years and when the one fish died it was clear the second fish was mourning its partner.

I personally think most fish, especially larger fish are much more intelligent than we give them credit for.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Can they get bored: yes, so give them things to do.

Do they get lonely: doubt it

 

[jsodwi]

I have a big very old aro that lives in solitary because every time I try to move him up to the community tank, after a couple weeks he attacks every fish. He has no choice but to stay lonely. I had a pair of aros that when the one died after 9 years, the other layed on the bottom of the tank for weeks without eating.