Do fish mourn?

[Deleted member 149562]

I think that they might mourn a loss, but am not sure

Two days ago my male Ramirezi lost his other half. They had lived together for the last 5 or so years, never squabbled with each other at all. They didn't have fry or even try, they mirror swam everywhere together, would come to the glass when I passed their aquarium...wonderful fish, very good natured

She had been slowing down over the last week, nothing visibly wrong, no issues with swimming or eating...just slower and he would wait for her to catch up with him and constantly fuss around her...zero aggression, just fussing and keeping closer by her side more....a bit like an old married couple

Anyway a couple mornings ago I found her close to the surface, he was standing guard and it was obvious that she had gone. I removed her and have given him some quiet time and TLC

He is looking for her constantly. He swims around looking around everything in the aquarium for her...she was his shadow for so long...he is eating fine but he often looks at me as if saying "where is she mum, I can't find her"

He sits in their cave for an hour or so, then goes looking for her again...often quite frantic before retuning to their cave again

So....are fish capable of mourning the loss of their partner?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

I don't know but that was a sad read they must be capable of having some sense of loss especially after a long time companion passes...poor little guy

 

[itiwhetu]

Cichlids are special. I'm sure Charlie my Oscar died of a broken heart. Other fish I'm not so sure about.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

'Mourning' is a human thing, but how many humans 'mourn' the same way?
I dislike anthropomorphising, because it's unnecessary and basically disrespects the real animal it's applied to, however...

We all know that fish develop stable habits and respond directly to changes in their environment.
We also know that some fish* can form what appear to be very definite attachments, whether or not this is to a patch of tank territory, a particular plant or ornament, or another fish.
Some fish pair up for life, others do not.
As do we.

He most certainly will not be thinking 'where is she, Mum?' and you'll be placing your own feelings onto the fish, because that'll be what works for you as you manage your own sense of loss.
'Mum' is grieving and I'm very sorry for your loss. The more we feel for something, the harder that loss is felt.

*Fish are as varied as mammals, or birds, etc.. Some are way higher up the cognitive scale than others. Cichlids are clearly at the higher end of the scale.

 

[itiwhetu]

'Mourning' is a human thing, but how many humans 'mourn' the same way?
I dislike anthropomorphising, because it's unnecessary and basically disrespects the real animal it's applied to, however...

We all know that fish develop stable habits and respond directly to changes in their environment.
We also know that some fish* can form what appear to be very definite attachments, whether or not this is to a patch of tank territory, a particular plant or ornament, or another fish.
Some fish pair up for life, others do not.
As do we.

He most certainly will not be thinking 'where is she, Mum?' and you'll be placing your own feelings onto the fish, because that'll be what works for you as you manage your own sense of loss.
'Mum' is grieving and I'm very sorry for your loss. The more we feel for something, the harder that loss is felt.

*Fish are as varied as mammals, or birds, etc.. Some are way higher up the cognitive scale than others. Cichlids are clearly at the higher end of the scale.

Did you read this story that I wrote

Oscars are great pets

Feeding time

www.fishforums.net

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

Did you read this story that I wrote

Oscars are great pets

Feeding time

www.fishforums.net

I did...don't start me off again.

 

[itiwhetu]

I did...don't start me off again.

I'm not sure it is true but we love to humanize these things, that is what makes us unique on this planet

 

[DoubleDutch]

I think that they might mourn a loss, but am not sure

Two days ago my male Ramirezi lost his other half. They had lived together for the last 5 or so years, never squabbled with each other at all. They didn't have fry or even try, they mirror swam everywhere together, would come to the glass when I passed their aquarium...wonderful fish, very good natured

She had been slowing down over the last week, nothing visibly wrong, no issues with swimming or eating...just slower and he would wait for her to catch up with him and constantly fuss around her...zero aggression, just fussing and keeping closer by her side more....a bit like an old married couple

Anyway a couple mornings ago I found her close to the surface, he was standing guard and it was obvious that she had gone. I removed her and have given him some quiet time and TLC

He is looking for her constantly. He swims around looking around everything in the aquarium for her...she was his shadow for so long...he is eating fine but he often looks at me as if saying "where is she mum, I can't find her"

He sits in their cave for an hour or so, then goes looking for her again...often quite frantic before retuning to their cave again

So....are fish capable of mourning the loss of their partner?

I don't think that they mourn but for most (social) fish counts that there isn't any company of their own species with which they can socialize.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

I'm not sure it is true but we love to humanize these things, that is what makes us unique on this planet

Many biologists and zoologists would argue that the habit is detrimental, 'cos it blinds us to the real behaviour and motives.
There are many things that make us unique, but proving that this is one of them would be difficult. That said, it is thought that cats and dogs view us a cats and dogs...and there's a multitude of stories of many different animal young imprinting on us...so perhaps it's not such a 'unique' characteristic after all.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I'm sure that animals have feelings but I'm less certain about fish. However, we can see that schooling and shoaling fish do 'need' each other. Since a companion relationship can be clearly observed, a sudden absence of a companion is likely to create some confusion appearing like mourning a loss... but who can say for sure?