Can Fish Become Bored?

[xtenrou]

I'm doing some work for college...and I'm wondering, if theres no rocks/plants/caves/decorations, can the fish get bored?
I know that sounds a little silly, but I was thinking if theres nothing for the fish to swim round/through would they get bored?

 

[fluttermoth]

That's a very interesting question...

I think some of the more 'intelligent' (as far as we can ascertain) fish, like goldies, cichlids, puffers and the like, could certainly get bored in a bare tank.

As for the less intelligent (tetras, barbs, livebearers), I don't think they'd be bored, exactly, but keeping fish in bare tanks is, IMO, very stressful for them, and can lead to all sorts of health and behavioural problems.

Fish did not evolve to live in glass boxes; the small shoaling fish do feel insecure if there are no hiding places available and would never be 'happy' or show natural behaviour or good colour in a bare tank.