Stupid question - Do fish get bored in home aquaria?

[joec]

Provided they have what's considered a large enough tank, etc?

 

[Crossfire]

I don't think that's a stupid question at all. I doubt fish are able to experience emotions like boredom, but who knows? I hope not.

I think it comes down to individual morals and ethics, like is it okay to take fish from the ocean to put in our 50-100 gallon tanks. This gets very complicated and is subjective.

 

[joec]

I don't think that's a stupid question at all. I doubt fish are able to experience emotions like boredom, but who knows? I hope not.

I think it comes down to individual morals and ethics, like is it okay to take fish from the ocean to put in our 50-100 gallon tanks. This gets very complicated and is subjective.

I enjoy the hobby and work diligently to keep them healthy well fed, etc but often have second thoughts on the ethics of the hobby.

 

[Oldreefer44]

Until one of them talks, I don't think we'll know. Reminds me of all the books etc on what babies think and feel. I always ask: Which one of them talked?

 

[Tiger Brown]

A Conversation With Fish Behavioural Scientist, Dr. Culum Brown

A conversation with Dr. Culum Brown, one of the world's leading researchers in fish behaviour and cognition.

www.reef2reef.com

If you have read the outstanding Spotlight article on depression in fish which is linked for you above, it stands to reason that if fish can, in fact, become depressed or feel depression then they could indeed feel boredom. I have a 4 foot long 55 gallon which is small these days, and my fish seem to swim around happily and play in the current of my powerheads, but do I really know they aren't bored? My dog sleeps or begs to be walked when she is bored, my kids watch something no doubt inappropriate on Netflix or Youtube, and I tend to play video games or post innocuous drivel on my favorite fish forum. Not sure how my fish would act.

 

[TheHarold]

We need an aquatic psychiatrist

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

From my observation on aquarium fish vs fish in the wild, I do believe they can get bored being in such a closed small system compared to the dozens or hundreds of square meters they may cover in the wild. A symptom of this we can witness is pacing. I've noticed pacing issues with Tangs in my tanks and that's why I stopped keeping Tangs. It bothers me to see a fish anxiously pacing back and forth on the front glass pane. Instead of boredom, it may also be considered a sign of stress.

 

[Ardeus]

I gave this a great deal of thought when I upgraded my tank.

I chose small fish for a 200 gallon tank and only fish don't swim a lot. To wrap it up, I chose fish that appreciate the company of conspecifics and I keep them in pairs/groups.

Have you noticed how fish in huge public aquariums look like zombies when compared to the wild?

 

[Back where it all began]

I suspect they do. Just as a bird in a cage. When the door is opened, the bird will no doubt fly away and be gone. I know my aquatic life would swim away if given the chance and not return. Not sure if this new freedom indicates a new chance at a life outside the “box.”

 

[Stigigemla]

In my shop I have 80 gallon tanks for fishes. Usually with 2 rocks of a few pounds each. When I have sold most of the fishes in a tank it is common that single fishes in a tank get lazy and spend most of their time hiding in or behind the rocks.
When I add a few fishes they move more again and are not so easy to scare. No Fish is alone on a reef.
The japanese garden inspired tanks disturbes me because I have seen how much more the fishes are in the open when they know where ever I am it is close to a hiding place. More rocks in the tank and the fishes will do better.
In tanks You often see fishes of different species or familys are getting buddies and go together practically the whole day. Most salt water fishes want a companion (Or many).

 

[mort]

Certain species definitely show signs of reactivity to their world, hawkfish are a good example. I'm not sure if it's boredom but I've watched many that deliberately annoyed other fish to get a reaction so could believe that without certain stimulus they would suffer.
Fish are relatively simple and by giving them regular small feeds or the chance to feed in a natural way, you are well on their way to a full existence.

 

[Russell Casey]

I think the other way to look at this, especially if you have captive raised fish, that at the end of the day if you are a good reefkeeper and diligent with your tank maintenance, many of the captive raised fish or wild fish if you will can live longer than in the ocean. Why? Predators, for instance I read a typical Clownfish is old in the ocean at 3 to 4 years because they usually get killed etc. Yet, in a tank they can live for a long while better than that.

I do see the other side of the argument though. As I am new a fish keeping (less than a year) and although I tried I had some deaths along the way. The way fish are treated are pretty bad to get to us. That is why if you have an ethical feeling that saltwater reefkeeping is bad, captive to me is the way to go.

 

[mta_morrow]

 

[Jon Fishman]

I leave Netflix on.... so far no complaints

 

[mta_morrow]

I leave Netflix on.... so far no complaints

I play reruns from shark week. Keeps them on their fins.

 

[Silver14SS]

We need an aquatic psychiatrist

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Provided they have what's considered a large enough tank, etc?

Mine like to eat... that keeps them entertained...and chasing each other around the tank

 

[Dan_P]

Provided they have what's considered a large enough tank, etc?

I would rephrase the question because boredom may not be state of mind for fish. How about “Do your fish exhibit natural behavior all the time”?

 

[WVNed]

I think mine are bored. They vandalize stuff I don't want them to touch, move it around and eat my macro algae.

 

[TeresaRN]

I like to switch the rocks around every few months to create a new surrounding. Kinda what I do to the rooms in my house. I get bored quickly.