I Know Fish Can Get Stressed But Can They Get Depressed?

[star4]

I have two huge common plecs, they had been kept in a small tank together for 10 years or more before I rescued them. I only had a 4ft x20" x 20" tank so they are living in there, they were really lively swimming about most of the time. I have been told that I shouldnt keep them together and this tank is too small and even a 5ft x 20" x 20" would be too small for them both. So I split them up into two seperate tanks. After a few days both of them looked really miserable and swimming about andstopped eating. I checked the water stats, everything was all fine. Just out of curiosity I put them back together and they are happy again, swimming about together and eating again.

 

[Forestpisces]

Yes fish certainly can get depressed and one of my rescues was just that when i got him.

Depressed fish tend to act lathargic for what seems to be no good reason and if your water stats are good and the fish is showing no other signs of disease then it could well just be depressed.

 

[minxfishy]

Yep they sure do, particularly I find larger fish and cichlids, they do form bonds (even if not exactly a pair) and when you split them up, they do pine for their missed friends, if they were happy enough in the tank together, then I would leave them there.

 

[star4]

Thanks for the replies, I think its best they stay together then, they will be moved to a bit bigger tank soon.

 

[bagu]

ive heard some loaches get depressed and wont come out