Fish are unique, beautiful, and simple water creatures. They are easy to keep, as you only need a small space for their tank. Their emotions are mainly a puzzle since they live in water, a different habitat from their owners. But Do fish love their owners?
Yes, fish love their owners. Their body language shows their love for their owners. There are several ways to tell whether your fish loves you.
So, how do you know if your fish loves you? Here are three ways:
1. When You Approach Their Tank, They Swim Towards You
Fish that love you will swim in your direction and wait for you. They will look at you, and this shows that the fish has some interest in you. If you sit near the fish tank, you can see them swimming back and forth in your direction.
2. Respond Positively to Your Greetings
If you speak to your fish, it flares out and then comes back to your position. It means it is enjoying your company and thus showing its love for you. Your fish may even hang around very close to show they are enjoying a conversation with you.
3. It Is Playful Around You
If your fish is ready to play with you, it is fond of you. You can play with your fish by moving your finger around the water so it tries to reach you.
Your fish can also start swimming in circles near you. This could show that they are having a good time having you around.
Can You Tell If a Fish Is Happy?
Yes. You can tell when a fish is happy. Many scientific experiments have proven this. For instance, in one case, a biologist from Portugal kept a seabream in both harsh and favorable conditions to see how he would behave. He measured a stress hormone named cortisone to understand what happens in the brain and body of the fish.
He realized that the hormone level was high when the fish was in harsh conditions and lower when exposed to favorable conditions. Additionally, the behavior of the fish differed greatly in both situations.
Happy fish will be more playful and will swim around with more energy. To some extent, some fish will swim to the top and blow bubbles to show they are excited. If you have many fish, they will swim together and form patterns as they enjoy each other’s company.
On the other hand, sad fish will be more reserved. They will stay in one place and fail to make any vigorous moves. They may refuse to eat and even lose their vibrant color to a darker shade. An abrupt change in behavior can also show that your fish is stressed.
Do Fish Miss Their Owners?
Are fish happy to see their owners? Many fish owners were asked this question. Yes, fish miss their owners and are happy to see them, as shown by how they behave near them.
Moreover, confessions from many of them state that yes, they are happy and excited to see them back after not being around for a while.
Fish also show love by how playful they become after seeing their owners. Such behavior shows that fish develop an attachment to their owners. Especially if their owners feed them to satisfaction, ensuring clean water and a comfortable environment.
The Brain of a Fish
However, for fish to get attached to humans, they must recognize them first, yet it is often thought that a fish’s brain is very simple to identify a human. Let’s learn more about the brain of a fish.
An experiment carried out by academics from Oxford University and Queensland University in Australia revealed that fish can recognize unique human faces. The type of fish used for the experiment was the archerfish, which was trained to recognize one human face.
After some time, the fish was shown several other human faces, and it could spray water onto the face it was trained to learn. Out of 100, the fish recognized the familiar face at 81%. The experiment confirmed that fish have excellent memories.
The structure of a fish’s brain is simpler than that of mammals. However, this does not limit its ability to recognize patterns and identify with its owners. There are many fish species, and their capabilities keep improving over the years, just like humans.
Beta Fish
Betta fish are one of the most intelligent pet fish. It is very easy to understand how they behave, and you can easily train them. Their beauty is why they are mainly used as ornamental fish and pets.
Ensuring a betta fish is happy is easy, as they love staying in a fancy environment. They are delighted when plants and caves surround them. You can also paint pictures on the tank’s outside.
Bettas love to stay in clean water and eat the right foods to stay healthy. They are also very social and form good attachments with their owners, as long as you keep them in the right setting.
Ways to Bond with Your Fish
To make any connection, you must make an effort to engage and spend time with your pet fish. Fish are not different from other pets. You can bond with them as well and grow their love for you.
However, like other pets, physically petting a fish is rare, making it difficult to know whether your fish loves you.
Here are ways to show love to your fish:
1. Talk to Your Fish
Talking to your fish can be one of the best ways to bond with them. Fish can hear you, and they enjoy your presence. One of the best ways to engage them is when they hear your voice.
Talking to your fish is not only relaxing for them but also therapeutic for you. Your pets will listen to you and not make judgments. In the end, you will relieve any stress and be happy too.
2. Teach Your Fish Tricks
You can teach your fish tricks, and you will be surprised at how positively they respond. You can place your finger on their tank and let them follow it.
Another game you can teach your fish with patience is to jump out of the water by placing a treat for them up there.
3. Play Ball Games
Place a clean ball in the fish tank and push it around. Allow your fish to swim around it or try to push it up. This game is common among betta fish, who love playing it.
You must ensure maximum cleanliness so you do not contaminate the fish’s water. Fish are very sensitive and prone to infections.
4. Play Harmonious Songs
You can play calm music near your fish and also relax near your fish aquarium. By doing these things, your fish will enjoy the music and equate your presence with happiness.
You will be surprised at how intelligent your fish can be. Ensure you are patient and take your time to observe the behavior of your fish.