fish – Pets – Purplepedia

Keeping your fish happy should be one of the most important duties to you as a fish owner. While trying to keep your fish happy, have you ever wondered whether fish get bored living in tanks? Usually, pets react differently to new territories, so it is natural for beginner fish owners to wonder whether fish get bored living in tanks. So, do fish get bored living in a tank? Most fish can get bored living in a tank. Just like any other creature with emotions, fish are prone to boredom. Fish can get bored living in a tank if they lack enough stimulation. In fact, some fish express their boredom through weird signals. Therefore, fish owners need to remain aware of how to entertain their fish to prevent them from getting bored and becoming unhappy. In this article, we will discuss answers to some of the other questions you might be having concerning fish boredom. Read on to learn how to know if your fish are bored, whether or not fish realize they are in a tank, and whether it is cruel to keep fish in a tank, among many others Do Fish Have Feelings/Emotions? Most people keep fish as pets because fish are generally therapeutic and calm. Most fish don't bother much, and, because of that, many people consider them perfect pets. However, one common question that may pop-up is whether fish have feelings/emotions. The mask-like features on fish make people assume that they don't experience feelings, but fish have emotions. Science has revealed that fish can feel bored and feel other emotions such as anger, sadness, and insecurity. For instance, a fish can get angry when another fish is introduced into the tank. On the other hand, other fish crave companionship and feel happy when another fish is put in the tank. How Do You Know When Fish Are Bored? It can be challenging to know when fish are bored. However, with a few tips, you can be able to tell when a fish is bored. To know when your fish are bored, you need to understand your fish. When you are aware of how your fish normally behaves, unusual behavior can help you determine whether a fish is bored. Even though not all unusual behavior signifies boredom, being able to identify unusual behavior can help you identify boredom on time. According to research, just like humans, fish can get bored. Fish boredom can be associated with the lack of socialization or lack of stimulation. Boredom due to lack of socialization mainly applies to schooling fish. Such fish are used to being around their species. When schooling fish are kept in a tank, away from their species, they can become bored and begin acting strangely. Consequently, stimulation is vital to such fish. Although each fish exhibits unique behavior when bored, some common signs of a bored fish include: Inactivity/lethargySlowness to eatTail biting Inactivity/Lethargy Inactivity can be associated with a variety of illnesses. Therefore, if you notice lethargy, it would be best for you to find out if your fish is sick. Nonetheless, such behavior can also be a sign of boredom. Your fish might be bored if it seems as if it doesn't want to do anything and wants to remain in one position in the tank. Often, bored fish sleep a lot. Slowness To Eat A fish can get bored if they get used to eating the same food over and over again. When such boredom happens, you might notice your fish acting differently towards food. Because of becoming too used to one type of food, a fish might become slow to eat. You might observe your fish being in no rush to chase food. A bored fish can even totally ignore food. Nonetheless, unusual reactions towards food can be an indication of other problems. Therefore, be sure, investigate all possibilities if you notice your fish acting strangely towards food. Tail Biting If you own a betta fish, this is one sign you might want to look out for. Tail biting among betta fish can be a sign of boredom. Therefore, if your betta fish is biting its tail, you should act fast to prevent it from ripping its tail off. However, such a behavior can be an indication of something else. Therefore, don't automatically conclude that your fish is bored when you see him or her tail biting. Therefore, to stimulate your fish, try simple things such as adding safe aquatic plants in the tank for your fish to explore. You might also be able to stimulate your fish if you rearrange the tank once in a while. Also, look for exciting ways to play with your fish to keep them entertained and from getting bored. Do Fish Realize They Are in a Tank? Considering that fish are believed to be intelligent living beings, you might be wondering whether or not they can tell they are in a tank. Pet fish realize that they are surrounded by a solid barrier, which they can see through, but they are not intelligent enough to know that the barrier is a tank. Fish are intelligent creatures, but they can't really grasp the concept of what a tank is. It might be interesting to note that if a fish lives all its life in a tank, it will probably not know that a place (the ocean) exists where it can swim without hitting a barrier (the tank). What Do Fish See from Inside the Tank? You are allowed to wonder what fish see from inside the tank. Besides, your fish probably gets excited whenever you approach the tank to feed them. Does that mean they can see you? According to research, although fish don't see water, Snell's window allows a fish to see objects above water from a 96-degree angle. This is why fish usually scamper when a person looks down their tank. Snell's window is almost similar to the bird's eye view. However, it relates to looking upwards and not downwards. Fish can also see through the sides of a tank. They are especially good at spotting fast-moving objects. However, most fish cannot see things located a few feet away clearly. So, if you were wondering whether your fish can see you eating during dinner, you now know that they probably can't see you. On the other hand, if you walk past a tank, your fish will most likely catch on and look at you. Can Fish See Their Reflection in a Tank? It's interesting to note that some fish are afraid of their mirror images. If you've ever noticed your fish flaring its fins or gills, you might be wondering whether or not it was doing that because of catching its reflection in the tank. There is no consensus as to whether or not fish can see their reflection in a tank. Some people believe that they can't, whereas others maintain that they can. Nonetheless, if you have only one fish in a tank and notice it flaring its fins or gills, it is likely that it can see its reflection in the tank. Is It Cruel To Keep Fish in a Tank? The debate on whether or not fishkeeping is ethical is never-ending. Some people believe that fishkeeping is wrong in many ways. As a pet fish owner, such a topic can have you wondering if purchasing your pet fish was a good idea. It is cruel for anyone to keep their pet fish in deplorable conditions; however, keeping fish in a tank is generally not cruel as long as you provide the fish with good living conditions. It is cruel for a fish owner to keep fish in an unsafe tank. On the other hand, it would be unfair to say that it is cruel for a fish owner to keep fish in a tank if it is safe. Rearing a pet fish in a regulated space and properly feeding the fish can also not be considered cruelty. Additionally, it would be unfair to call a fish owner who shows kindness to their fish cruel. To avoid being called a cruel fish owner, you should do a number of things. For example, don't let excitement lead you into overstocking your fish tank. An overstocked fish tank can cause your fish to become stressed, especially if you have fish that don't enjoy socializing all the time. Also, when you have too many fish in a tank, it can become hard for you to ensure all of them are fed. To prevent yourself from overstocking your fish tank, conduct adequate research on the exact space the specific type of fish you want to keep requires. Surprisingly, a well-kept fish can live so much longer in a tank than it otherwise would do in its natural habitat. In their natural habitat, fish are at risk of being attacked by predators. However, when in a tank, fish are generally safe from predators. Finally To sum up, as a fish owner, you need to understand your fish. Only after understanding your fish's normal behavior can you notice when they are behaving abnormally. It is also crucial that you stimulate your fish whether or not you think they are bored. The good news is that it is generally easy to stimulate most fish. Additionally, avoid overstocking your fish tank and provide your pet fish with a good home.