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Can fish make friends? - Interesting Behaviour

Sammy Islam

Member
Joined
12 Mar 2019
Messages
692
Location
Hertfordshire
Hey people, hope all is well. As per the thread title, can fish make friends?

Why do i ask this?
I have had my tank set up for nearly a year and have noticed some interesting behaviour especially at lights out.

I have a pair of rams, and a remaining pair of red robin gouramis (Trichogaster labiosus) and a remaining pair of sunset honey gouramis (Trichogaster chuna). The behaviour between the rams and the two types of gourami are very different. The rams are smart and they are way more agressive with the red robins compared to the honeys, i guess the rams reciprocate a level of aggression they may face from the gouramis.

I first noticed how the rams were aggressive with the red robins when they needed to be, full aggression, chasing and sparring with the male gourami. Where as with the honeys the aggression was very muted, almost gentle. It was more of a very light nudge and "showing off", with very little chasing or fighting.

The most interesting behaviour is at lights off. My male ram follows my male honey gourami around. No aggression, just weirdly doesn't let him out his sights and he follows/stalks him very closely like he is escorting him around the tank. The gourami doesn't really try swim away from him, they seem to hang out if anything and it just really interests me. He definitely spends more time with the gourami than the female ram, but the male and female ram seem to have on/off relationship which can vary daily 🤣
 
The most interesting behaviour is at lights off. My male ram follows my male honey gourami around. No aggression, just weirdly doesn't let him out his sights and he follows/stalks him very closely like he is escorting him around the tank. The gourami doesn't really try swim away from him, they seem to hang out if anything and it just really interests me. He definitely spends more time with the gourami than the female ram, but the male and female ram seem to have on/off relationship which can vary daily 🤣
Two words: Finding Nemo

1609183842175.png


Yesterday, I added three peacock gudgeons and my 2 apisto paired up and "checked them out" -- once they were harmless, they split back up.

I split up my apistos for about a week and when they came back together, they had a little calm time together.

Do they make life-long bonds -- not sure ... but temporary friends, I think absolutely.

Josh
 
Two words: Finding Nemo

View attachment 159541

Yesterday, I added three peacock gudgeons and my 2 apisto paired up and "checked them out" -- once they were harmless, they split back up.

I split up my apistos for about a week and when they came back together, they had a little calm time together.

Do they make life-long bonds -- not sure ... but temporary friends, I think absolutely.

Josh
I definitely think they are "friends", or maybe some creepy stalker that follows him but he has to live with it 🤣

The male and female ram is very unique aswell. Sometimes they hate eachother, but then times they follow each other about and defend eachother. I have also noticed if either of the rams don't feel well, the other ram will start chasing the other ram a lot.
 
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