Hey there lonelyyyyyyyyy fish, lonely fish.

[Glenner’sreef]

I’ve never really heard if this is an “actual thing “
But I think I saved my new young Unicorn Tang’s life by adding 2 new fish to the tank.
Hear me out.
I just started a new frag tank 2 weeks ago and all that goes along with that. Felt confident that the beneficial bacteria had a solid presence there and so decided to introduce the first fish into the frag tank.
Fish of choice was a young Unicorn Tang. Beautiful 2 1/2” long fish, perfect for keeping the frags clean. It appeared to be fine the first couple of days. Eating well and swimming around the tank. About day 3 and 4 the fish began to act strangely. Occasional spasms, like hiccups. Not eating as much and hiding a lot. No ammonia detected, everything seemed fine.
I sensed that its time on mother earth was short. I thought maybe it’s “lonely” I know, not very scientific. I knew I was going to buy a couple more fish for this tank anyhow so off to the lfs. I purchased a Maroon Clown and a Diamond Goby. Brought them home acclimated them and put them in the tank. The Maroon swam near the hiding Unicorn and out came the Unicorn to meet the new arrival. It was like night and day. The tang instantly improved. I thought for sure through observation that this fish had a day maybe two to live.
Have you had any similar situations where a fish seemed to need, I mean really need some companionship?

 

[X-37B]

I’ve never really heard if this is an “actual thing “
But I think I saved my new young Unicorn Tang’s life by adding 2 new fish to the tank.
Hear me out.
I just started a new frag tank 2 weeks ago and all that goes along with that. Felt confident that the beneficial bacteria had a solid presence there and so decided to introduce the first fish into the frag tank.
Fish of choice was a young Unicorn Tang. Beautiful 2 1/2” long fish, perfect for keeping the frags clean. It appeared to be fine the first couple of days. Eating well and swimming around the tank. About day 3 and 4 the fish began to act strangely. Occasional spasms, like hiccups. Not eating as much and hiding a lot. No ammonia detected, everything seemed fine.
I sensed that its time on mother earth was short. I thought maybe it’s “lonely” I know, not very scientific. I knew I was going to buy a couple more fish for this tank anyhow so off to the lfs. I purchased a Maroon Clown and a Diamond Goby. Brought them home acclimated them and put them in the tank. The Maroon swam near the hiding Unicorn and out came the Unicorn to meet the new arrival. It was like night and day. The tang instantly improved. I thought for sure through observation that this fish had a day maybe two to live.
Have you had any similar situations where a fish seemed to need, I mean really need some companionship?

Never had that happen. Very cool story though!

 

[Karen00]

Wow! That's a great story!

 

[davidcalgary29]

I recently bought one angelfish from a man who was breaking down his tank. I decided not to buy any of the other fish in the tank for a few weeks, and then broke down and went back for two of the tangs. The three fish swim together for most of the day, ignore the other fish in their new home, and are clearly replicating whatever social dynamic they enjoyed in their old tank. I think most of us spend less time thinking about the social needs of our fish than we do about what looks good in our tanks (or who's in danger of eating someone else).

 

[Glenner’sreef]

I once upgraded my 90 gallon to a 120 gallon. Upon put 4 of my Chromis into the larger tank, I seriously sensed “joy” as these Chromis swam back and forth, from one end of the tank to the other. Again, not at all a science observation. Fish are not like dogs: loving, loyal, forgiving trusting…… someone stop me. Lol. But years of observation makes me believe there’s something there.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hmmm , while possible, never had such experience.

 

[Reefvision]

I do think fish are “social” creatures. I purchased two striped blenies that were together in a tank at lfs and had only them in a 20 gal reef tank for 4 months and they were fine. One day one of the blennies escaped thru the screen tops small gap and perished. That other blennie was acting very shy and hiding for about 3days before returning to normal actions. I plan on adding another fish to the tank soon as I noted that solitary fish in tanks seem a lot more skittish without friends. I also have another 20 gal reef setup with a single wrasse (melanaurus)and it’s also pretty skittish , but otherwise very healthy. In my other two larger tanks(210&55) I have wrasses that are not skittish at all and really social with their tankmates.

 

[F i s h y]

In the wild fish take ques from one another in terms of available food and predators. A single fish may be in a constant state of stress (fight or flight) when it doesn't have additional input from other fish.

 

[i cant think]

I’ve had a similar experience, my yasha goby, before I ever introduced a yellow head jawfish into the tank would always just be sat on the sand bed and hidden behind a rock. When I added a YHJ, he was a completely different fish it was like he watched the jawfish making its burrow and they became best friends. The jawfish jumped a few months later and the yasha just sat in his den as if he was waiting for him. This was two years ago, I then upgraded my tank to a 20g max nano from a 15g FW transitioned tank. The yasha is constantly making his own burrows and I feel so bad to the point I want to get another jawfish in there eventually. I can’t find a photo of the jawfish and yasha together but this is the best photo I got of the jawfish (Probably the only photo).

 

[homer1475]

In the wild fish take ques from one another in terms of available food and predators. A single fish may be in a constant state of stress (fight or flight) when it doesn't have additional input from other fish.

This x1000

On the reef if one fish dives for the rocks, it's a que to the others that something is amiss. I have seen this first hand when I started this tank. Early on when I only had a couple fish, they would hide most of the day. Add a few more fish, and when a few are out and about, everyone comes out. One darts into the rocks, they all dart in.

 

[i cant think]

This x1000

On the reef if one fish dives for the rocks, it's a que to the others that something is amiss. I have seen this first hand when I started this tank. Early on when I only had a couple fish, they would hide most of the day. Add a few more fish, and when a few are out and about, everyone comes out. One darts into the rocks, they all dart in.

I have found similar things with the 4’ tank, if one fish hides everyone except the foxface hides. If the foxface acts normal it’s safe but if the foxface hides (Usually during a WC or when adding frags to a tank) they take a while to come out. The jade is usually the last one to rise, usually taking about 30 minutes after the rest have come out.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

This x1000

On the reef if one fish dives for the rocks, it's a que to the others that something is amiss. I have seen this first hand when I started this tank. Early on when I only had a couple fish, they would hide most of the day. Add a few more fish, and when a few are out and about, everyone comes out. One darts into the rocks, they all dart in.

+1

 

[ying yang]

In the wild fish take ques from one another in terms of available food and predators. A single fish may be in a constant state of stress (fight or flight) when it doesn't have additional input from other fish.

Was just going write something similar what read years ago and why some add " dither fish " to get other fish to come out and be in the open as its safe for one fish then safe for all kind of thing.as on the reef many predators about and you see many fish schoal together ( all different species)

So one fish on its own will be scared because no other fish about to tell them its safe

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Was just going write something similar what read years ago and why some add " dither fish " to get other fish to come out and be in the open as its safe for one fish then safe for all kind of thing.as on the reef many predators about and you see many fish schoal together ( all different species)

So one fish on its own will be scared because no other fish about to tell them its safe

Very insightful! Much appreciated.