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Goldfish in an aquarium: Why are these little fish afraid to approach humans?
Goldfish, a pet fish that evolved from wild carp, has long been a favorite of aquarium enthusiasts. However, despite their striking color and shape, many novice fish keepers find that small goldfish seem to shrink from the proximity of humans. Why are these little fish afraid to get close to us?
Innate sociality and fear
Goldfish are social animals by nature and enjoy living with others of their own kind. They have their own unique way of communicating, usually by swimming, rubbing against each other, and clinging to each other. However, while adult goldfish may display affectionate behavior toward their owners, younger goldfish often display marked shyness and fear of human contact.
Young goldfish usually avoid any form of human contact, however, this fear will gradually decrease as they grow.
The boundary between pets and natural enemies
Goldfish are not natural predators, their natural enemies include birds, frogs, etc. In the wild, they are constantly under threat from predators and are therefore wary of anything approaching. In the home aquarium, goldfish still retain this instinct. When faced with humans, young goldfish often regard them as predators and choose to escape.
Water quality and environmental factors
The quality of water directly affects the behavior of goldfish. In a bad living environment, goldfish will feel stressed and become more timid. Goldfish in small aquariums experience abnormally increased pressure due to lack of swimming space, which makes them more sensitive to external contact.
Ideally, goldfish need a minimum of 10 gallons of water per fish to ensure breathable water quality.
How to eliminate goldfish's fear?
In order to promote friendly interactions between goldfish and people, owners can use some methods to reduce the goldfish's fear. This includes regular interaction with your goldfish, such as hand gestures when feeding, creating a safe environment, etc.
Once a goldfish becomes familiar with its owner's face, it will be able to swim up to the owner at feeding time.
Proper Care of Goldfish
In order for goldfish to grow healthily, it is essential to provide a proper aquarium environment. Goldfish are not suitable for living in small bowls. Such an environment will cause water quality deterioration and lack of oxygen, and may cause goldfish to increase their fear of human contact. Therefore, you should choose an aquarium of appropriate size while ensuring the water is clean and at a suitable temperature.
Keeping the water clean and the water body of appropriate size not only helps goldfish live longer and healthier, but also greatly reduces their stress.
Goldfish Behavior and Habits
Adult goldfish are more likely to eat from their owner's hands without hesitation. This behavior is not only pleasing to the eye, but also represents the goldfish's adaptation and closeness to its environment. However, this behavior is not common in small fish, which shows their natural wariness of humans.
Conclusion: Rethinking Your Interaction with GoldfishThe distance between goldfish and humans is undoubtedly affected by many factors. However, as the goldfish grows and the environment improves, this relationship may change. When the little goldfish starts to become less fearful and more approachable, does it mean that our connection with nature has returned to a new stage?
