Any body else seen there fish play
- Thread starter dan518
- Start date
Hello; While I have sometimes thought of observed fish activities as "play, " however if pressed to give a SWAG (Scientific Wild A _ _ Guess) I would have to fall on the side of it is not play. My education and career was in science and the "scientific method" my touchstone.
Some of the things observed that look like play are often mating dances, territorial displays and such. I have some male white cloud mt. minnows that "dance" around each other from time to time. Kinda looks like play, but I know it is not.
Some of the things observed that look like play are often mating dances, territorial displays and such. I have some male white cloud mt. minnows that "dance" around each other from time to time. Kinda looks like play, but I know it is not.
Not to beat a dead horse, but by their own criteria stated in Table 1. this study doesn't make sense to me.
The behavior differs from other contexts in which it might occur such as
mating, feeding, and fighting
All the fish engaged in the behavior repeatedly, and the attacks were
variable in execution and timing
I've seen Tropheus attack other fish, and I would never consider this as playing, and don't understand how this behavior (attacking) would not be labeled as part of fighting/aggression.
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest......
The behavior differs from other contexts in which it might occur such as
mating, feeding, and fighting
All the fish engaged in the behavior repeatedly, and the attacks were
variable in execution and timing
I've seen Tropheus attack other fish, and I would never consider this as playing, and don't understand how this behavior (attacking) would not be labeled as part of fighting/aggression.
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest......
I would say that no, most fish probably don't play. I didn't do the research, and I haven't kept too many fish/types of fish, so I'm can't be certain. There are however certain behaviors that could be easily considered playful by human standards. I.e., the fish swimming through the filter return. Whatever they are doing, for whatever reason, this gives us a view of them as fun and playful. I would rather have a playful/lively fish, even if they are not really playing, than one that sits around doing nothing.
Brian
Brian
