how long is a fishes memory?

Question

how long does a fishes memory last

Answer 1

Quite a long time, actually. I know my fish have learned and retained that when the filters go off (in the 55-gallon), it's time for food. All the guys in my 20-gallon know that when the lid comes off, it's food time.

Though I don't agree with the premise of the page I'm about to link you to, it does talk accurately about the memory of fish. From http://www.fishinghurts.com/feat/fishlives/ : "Dr. Phil Gee, a psychologist from the University of Plymouth, says that fish can tell what time of day it is, and he trained fish to collect food by pressing a lever at specific times. He says "fish have a memory span of at least three months,..." among other interesting tidbits on fish memory.

And just for giggles, someone in, I believe, Japan, has trained their goldfish to swim in formation. It's kinda unbelievable, so you'll have to see it for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGw6EhBtznM

Answer 2

I was actually watching a show the other day that prooved that certain fish have excellent memories such as the Siamese Fighting Fish who can actually remember memories up to 3 weeks. Also you get the fish that migrate, yes they use their senses and follow the rest, but someone's got to remember the route to go and get a 'root' (If your not an aussie, look that one up in the aussie slang dictionary) Sicenist have spent many years trying to prove that fish arent dumb, I've atcually seen shows where people have trained their common goldfish to swim through mazes and play under-water football. I know that my discus is brainy, every time my partner puts his hand in the tank, the discus, swims to the bottom and waits for the worms. Again he's has to put two and two together otherwise he would be scared of my partner's hand. Yes you get the stupid ones, who jump out the tank, thinking they can jump back in again, but then you get the ones who actually plan it right and land in another tank full of girlie fish. But I think fish have memories, we just think because they swim backwards and forwards in a tank, that they dont. Well put they in the wild situation again and their natural senses come back and they know what to do. Schooling fish are less brainy I think, but the fish that hang around chilling alone, it's takes brains and guts not to get eaten!

Answer 3

The 3 second memory is just a myth. Here is just one of the many test that have been done to prove that they have longer memory then most think. http://www.psy.plymouth.ac.uk/fish/

The show mythbusters even had an episode where they proved it.


The fish that are swimming in formation in that link are actually not swimming at all. The guy who made the tape made the fish swallow tiny magnets and they are being pulled through the water. If you take a close look at it you can see where one of the fish tries to swim away but is pulled the other way.

Answer 4

I don't know the exact answer to this question...what I do know is that my goldfish remember when feeding time is. twice a day, at the same times everyday they are waiting at the top of the tank like begging dogs to be fed. They also scurry around the tank when when a stranger approaches, but they remember me and will let me touch them and eat out of my hand. So, I know they have longer memory than 3 sec.

Answer 5

Fish have quite long memories and can recognize people.
My Koi carp will come up to feed at the same time everyday and will only do this if they recognize the person who feeds them regulary.
For strangers the hide away at the bottom of the pond.

Answer 6

Scientists have recently proved that fish have excellent memories. Goldfish were able to remeber puzzles and obstacles that they had overcome to reach food. Fish, like salmon, return to the same breeding ground every year, so they have to remember the way!
Fish get very bad press when it comes to their memory!

Answer 7

3 seconds

Answer 8

6 seconds. That's where the saying 'you got a memory like a goldfish' comes from.

Answer 9

Depends on the length of the fish!

Answer 10

life long