Do goldfish get lonely?

Question

3 years ago I got two goldfish, but last year one died. Do you think he's lonely and would like a little friend? I haven't got another goldfish yet because I kinda just thought they were reaching their life expectancy but I heard they can live for decades and this one's hung on for another year so I dunno why the other one died. The tank is big enough for up to 3 fish but I think I'd just get one if I do get another one.

Answer 1

I have kept goldfish, almost exclusively, on and off for almost 20 years and one, let's please get rid of this stupid myth that fish, especially goldfish, only have 4 second memories. This myth was created and is perpetuated by ignorant humans who feel the need to be the smartest of all animals. With regard to the emotional side of their needs and whether they get lonely, there are the scientists who say they don't have the mental capacity to get lonely, but I question how they are able to properly make that determination. Have they been able to sit down with these fish and have a conversation to determine their emotional/pyschological needs? Brain size and capacity is not necessarily the only determination of what animals are capable of understanding or feeling. As a layperson, not having done any scientific study, but only through observation over the many years that I have kept goldfish, I truly, honestly believe that I have witnessed displays that indicate that they do form bonds with other fish. They swim everywhere together and it seems that they have some sort of need to constantly touch and nuzzle and bump each other. Call it love, call it friendship, call it some sort of emotional need or call it a physiological need, it is quite clear to me that goldfish need other fish. Yes, when you replace one goldfish that has died, the remaining goldfish will go on in it's new little world of happiness, but I have witnessed goldfish go into what appears to be a true depression when they lose their companion and then perk right back up when they get a new companion. So, as a human being, not as a scientist, I say yes, goldfish experience some type of loneliness and definitely do better with a companion.

Answer 2

In nature, you don't see a goldfish swimming around alone unless it's dying. BUT, in a tank if there is a big goldfish and a little goldfish, the big goldfish will nip at the fins of the little goldfish, so if you get the lone fish a friend, get a friend of comparable size and maybe a few little other fish to create a habitat - like some neons or algae eaters or something.

However long the fish's attention span, he still knows what he likes, and who knows, he may be having the same insight over and over again: I'm lonely. What was I thinking? I'm lonely. What did I just say to myself? I'm lonely! Hey is that a bug in the water? I'm lonely...

Answer 3

No goldfish are purely nice on their very own. He/she would be waiting to delight in greater helpful water high quality greater desirable than including yet another fish to pollute the water. additionally, a lot of human beings say that 10 gallons is nice for goldfish, yet as a results of fact of their length and waste volume, they actually desire a minimum of 30 gallons consistent with fish with ideas-blowing filtration. Even that, IMO, isn't adequate. remember that goldfish get a minimum of 6 inches, jointly as maximum get around 12 inches.

Answer 4

They don't get lonely, that's a fairly advanced emotion that goldfish (and most other fish if not all other fish) are not capable of having. One thing humans in general and especially we as pet owners are guilty of is anthropomorphism. That's thinking animals have the same emotions we have and are feeling things we would feel in the same situation.

As to the social behavior of some animals, that's often a response to threat. Being in a group means you are less likely to be the one eaten when the predator comes along, not because you like company. It's an evolved behavior, just like ducking when something flies at you.

The short memory span that others are refering to is also an unfortunate myth spread around by uninformed websites and uninformed people.

MM

Answer 5

My parents had 3 goldfish. When one of them became ill the other 2 seemed to show concern. They kept 'visiting' it and trying to nuzzle it up off the bottom of the tank. So I think it's quite likely that your surviving fish has spent a very lonely year. Most creatures need company.

Answer 6

No one knows if goldfish get lonley. Because are we goldfish?.. Yes goldfish CAN live for decades, if there in ponds and big tanks, A goldfish that lives 1-3 years probibly lives in a bowl and its growth is probibly stunnted.

Answer 7

no, they don't get lonely, but they do get bored.
One way to keep a solo goldfish interested is to feed it live food such as flies (swat them lightly with a fly-swatter, drop them still wiggling in the tank.) One or two live flies per day instead of its flakes or pellets makes things interesting and helps reduce the insect population at the same time.
If you have it in a big tank, you might consider the Chinese way of ensuring good luck with a total of eight goldfish, with one of them being a brown or black one (gold for good luck and good fortune, black to absorb all the bad luck and for balance). If it's a small bowl, maybe one more goldfish should make things interesting enough.
But live food is the best way to interest any fish.

Answer 8

I have heard that the memory of a goldfish only lasts for a short amount of time, so it has probably already forgotten about the other fish. By all means get another one though.

Answer 9

To the question and answers above, How do you know that they have a 5 second memory, have they asked the fish? So when they wake up' the [fish of -spring], are strangers? I cant see that. My dear' they are lonely, give the fish a friend.

Answer 10

It seems that the real issue here is whether YOU feel for your your goldfish. Make yourself feel more comfortable by introducing another goldfish. It can't hurt your existing one and will put your mind at rest. XXX