Interesting. My black tang and fox Face rabbbit fish had paired, whever the tang went the Fox face followed. He got fat, and couldn't swim as far or as fast as the tang so it would swim back to him urging him on and he'd follow. Something happened to the fox face, swam with his head down all the time. Couldn't right himself. I think he had a swim bladder infection. He jumped out of the tank. The tang seeemed lost about a week. Constantly wondering where his buddy was, but eventually moved on and seems to just enjoy being his dominant self. I have a chocolate tang and caribean blue tang, they all battle for a cave now and then but for the most part, the black always wins any domination battles and the rest just leave him alone.
My smaller fish actually socialize with the black tang, He tends to protect them a little bit and they just follow him around. For some reason they just know that the big black fish is untouchable so they submit and follow and the rest leave them alone as long as the black tang is nearby. Love fish culture and socio behaviors. As to emotion, it's survival at a basic instinct. Who competes for my food, who is a ******* and who helps me.
