Is it wise to buy fish in pairs?

Question

I read somewhere before that we shouldn't buy fish of the same species in a pair.The idea is that one of the fish will be more dominant and bully the weaker one.This will cause stress in the weaker fish.By having more than 2 fish,the bullying will be more distributed and not focused on just one fish.This reduces stress on the weaker ones.(It was also said a pecking order will be established in the species.)Thus,it was recommended to buy just one fish or more than 2,never in a pair.What do you think?

Answer 1

Depends on what fish you are buying. Some fishes, like schooling fishes, should be bought not in pairs but at-least 6-8 together. Some fishes DO NOT live in pairs like the flowerhorn, so you have to anyway buy them single. Fishes like Oscar, Angel etc are better to be bought in 2 pairs if your tank has the space to afford so.

Finally, yes, most other fishes be better bought in pairs, and if you are not too experienced about understanding the gender of the fishes you are planning to buy, ask your pet shop to do their best in giving you an established pair, or at-least a male and a female.
:-)

Answer 2

Fishes have different behaviours.Some like swarming around in schools of 5 or more, some are masters of solitude while others need a single partner.

Examples:zebra danios swarm in schools at the top of the tank happily while not so much when in a pair or single fish.Also, glass catfish are best kept in schools or would fade away and not eat, eventually dying from hunger.

Pearl gouramis, on the other hand, are best kept in a pair as they would then display their colours and awesome finnage to each other.A single fish would be dull-coloured.

Finally, there are solitary fishes who despise seeing their mirror image.The black ghost knifefish is a good example.Keep more than one and you see them battling one another though they are completely harmless to most other fish breeds.

Answer 3

i did buy two gold fish about two years ago well at first i bought one but thought it was lonly so i got another which was okay at first they were getting along really well but after a while the one i had got first decided not to like this new fish and started to keep away from it and stuff the fish i got second died soon after while the other one lived for another years
i hope this helps im not sure if its what you wanted =)

Answer 4

fish should be boght in 3

Answer 5

Some fish like to be in groups of 5 or more.

Some fish like to be in pairs.

And some like so be alone.


ßübblëš

Answer 6

fish prefer to go out together,,like us