Do fish have brains ??

Question

I have a fighting fish, and when it sees its reflection it goes crazy, so i was wondering, is it like instinct, or is like a little trigger in his brain that tells him to attack ??

My fish is alone in the tank...i feel dumb....my science teacher said u can't tell wether a fish is female or male...

NMy fish comes to the front of the bowl when he sees me or someone else in my family......Will my Betta kill a goldfish if i put it in with him....becuase he seems soo lonely.. Also my fish kinda tells me when he wants food he comes up to the top of the tank...and then comes back to me and he stares at me.

Answer 1

Fish have Brains. Some are actually very intelligent and learn. First; let us look at your Betta. Male/ Female you CAN tell the Difference. The Male have longer fins, mostly the tail. It be long and flowing, female more short and rounded. Both of my Bettas (kept separate, only together for breeding) know me, they come to the front of their Bowls when they see me.
Now, I tell about my Oscars. They know me specifically, IF, a stranger come into the Room they hide or lay on their sides like they Dying. As they become familiar with a specific person they OK. They know which food I give them. Example; Pellets they know the container and act different than when I feed the Chinese Algae Eater his Tablets, which they love. Hard to feed him. They also, love Hamburger and other table food, AND, know what they are. Their aquarium is in the Kitchen and as we eat, they just like a Dog begging for food. This is NOT instinct, it the reaction of intelligent fish that have Brains. You just have to learn how they talk to you, not expect them to learn how to talk to you! ALL animals like this.
I tell people; "Think of Doctor Doolittle" Singing; "He talks to the animals and they talk back, Bow Wow, Oink Oink, Quack Quack" Every Animal, Fish, Bird, etc. I have ever had..........I could talk to and know what they want!

Answer 2

Actually yes they have a physical brain. Now as to if they function as we perseve a brain should work I have to say yes. Some actions are reflex or instinct others are trained or learned.

There are even websites out there explaining how to train you fish to do things.
http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/trick.htm

So if a trick can be trained or learned It would lean to support the theory they have brains.

As for trying to figure out what sex a fish is. It is easy in some species of fish like guppies or bettas while other species like tin foil barbs it is not so easy. So It all depends on what fish specifically you teacher is talking about.

Answer 3

Of course they have brains! My tiny little Tetra boy has learned to follow my finger anywhere I make him go (he used to have trouble eating because he was so shy, so I would hide the food somewhere where no other fish went and show him the way). I think that your fish attacks his reflection probably because he see another fish (is he male?) and there are some females in the tank that he wants to keep for himself.

Answer 4

Aiyooh lengloi, how some years have you ever reside? never see one fish concepts? Did you do any cooking with fish or no longer? You ask the incorrect edge of human beings. circulate to Discovery and discover out laa. Now I crave for "Fish Curry Head" yet never consume any fish concepts till now..or did I? Any of you?

Answer 5

Fish have brains but they have a very very short memory. By the time he realizes the reflection is his, he forgets about it and is surprised all over again.

Answer 6

Obviously you don't for asking that question.

Are you getting stupider or do you really not have a brain. Bettas are fighting fish, they can't be with other fish or they will fight and kill them.

Answer 7

Obviously YES!

Answer 8

If fish didn't have brains they wouldn't live.

Answer 9

It is protecting its territory

Answer 10

yes. it wouldn't be able to move that much if it didn't. like a tree.