why is it my tropical fish seem to know when they are going to be fed ?

Question

when i approach the tank or turn on the light,they always gather at the top right hand corner,this is where i always put in the food,
sometimes if i just walk past the tank they do this as well,
do fish actually have a memory and remember or are they just playing follow the leader,its fasinating

Answer 1

Remember Pavlovs salivating dog? They are creatures of habit or are conditioned to when they see certain things, it is associated with the food...Just like the salivating dog. A bell would be rung and the dog got it's meal...and after time the dog after any bell would salivate as if it were about to be fed. Your fish are conditioned and associate the food with the light and are used to eating from a certain corner of the tank...Training, conditioning and habits.

Answer 2

Fish do actually have a memory. The thing about 5 seconds is tosh. They have learned that when you approach, they get food. I did this experiment with my own tropical fish;
Put a large piece of blue A4 paper at one end of the tank. At the other end, put a red piece. For 14 days, feed them at the red end. The next day, swap the colours over, and feed for 14 days at the red end again. Now change them back. When you approach, they will go to the red end, which is now the other end of the tank. Fish aren't stupid!

Answer 3

It is known as Pavlovs theory, he wrang a bell everytime he fed the dogs, then when he wrang the bell the ogs remembered and reacted to them being fed (Salivating) all animals even fish react in the same way. They just know its dinner time.

Mind you if i was stuck in a tank, almost anything going on would be more interesting.
Maybe fish shoul just live in the sea or rivers?

Answer 4

Fish get used to being fed from the same part of the tank so it is instinct that when you go near the tank they think that they are going to be fed. When you feed them try from another part of the tank. Or it may be that they are just happy to see you.

Answer 5

There is this strange myth that fish only have a 2 second memory... this is rubbish.

It is becuase when you walk up to the tank, you will mostly be feeding them, so they have learnt to associate you with food.

Answer 6

They do have a memory, though it is very short, and they also see you as their food source. My Guppies do this. Fish have a short memory, so they can't remember when they last ate, therefore, they're always begging for more food. Don't give in to it every time, or it will cause problems, such as obesity, and pollution to the water.

Answer 7

They do have a reminiscence, besides the undeniable fact that it really is amazingly short, and so as that they see you as their nutrients source. My Guppies attempt this. Fish have a short reminiscence, with a view to't submit to in innovations at the same time as they very last ate, for this reason, they're continually begging for further nutrients. do not provide in to it each and every time, or it is going to reason complications, consisting of weight problems, and pollution to the water.

Answer 8

i have a tropical fish tank too and like yourself they seem to know when its feeding time
i have a range of fish in there as well

Answer 9

fish can see you moving about.and if you feed them in the same place and at the same time they go there and get ready to get feed. l used to have a pond and l did this and l could hold the fish sticks in my fingers and they would that it from me.and they have a strong pull on them.

Answer 10

i beleave that yes fish do have a memory. as its the same with mine, they all gather at the corner i feed them. which messes emup if i feed them at a different corner.LOL.