Are You a Newt?

My daughter has pet newts (Or did 3 years ago - this is an old thing I found).  Two red belly newts inherited over 4 years ago from a girl who was beyond her love of amphibians.  These beasts are in the winter of their life, presumably, as they are now about 6 years old, maybe 100 in newt years.   Despite their familiarity, their obviously limited intelligence, sameness of surrounding and food, and too infrequent water changes these animals need each other.   They spend their days usually within an inch or two of each other if not on top of each other.   They huddle and seem to hug.   They may or may not communicate in any human sense but they must feel some happiness, comfort, or even joy in each others company.   Is this merely a survival strategy - the predator will only get one when they scatter in fear - or is this a true need to be near, a desire for companionship, a satisfaction in each others company?   This question is the newts to answer, or do we already see this answer in ourselves?