do fish have good memory?

Answer 1

Yes.... for about 10 seconds. lol

Answer 2

on is having trouble with his memory, while Yael talks about fishes' memory.
D: Today, on a Moment of Science, we look at fish-- hmmm!.-- fish--Yael, help me out.

Y: Today we're looking at fish memory, Don.

D: Oh yeah, can fish remember? Well, anyone who has ever owned an aquarium knows--uh!.

Y: -- knows how quickly fish learn to associate wiggling fingers with food.

D: That's right. But-- uh--

Y: But what's even more memorable is that there is a lot of research out there on fish memory, and despite the fact that the Internet abounds with rumors that goldfish can only remember something for a few seconds, experiments show that once they're taught to perform a certain task in response to a certain stimulus, goldfish will remember the task for several days. Right Don?

D: Yes, yes, of course.

Y: Another example of fish memory is the way salmon use their sense of smell, or what's known as olfactory imprinting, to return to the same stream they were born in during mating season. Some species, like the arctic char, can remember the smell of their siblings for days, and others can remember and recognize specific fish who are aggressive opponents. And how about all the fish that encounter new type of prey, become efficient at feeding on it, and then remember their new skills up to a month later, when they encounter this prey again? So basically fish learn and remember where their nest is, what the boundaries of their territory are, and where their mates, food, rivals and predators hang out, and even possibly what they look like. So,

Answer 3

I remember reading once that they have no actual memory but their instinct learns from experiences. For instance, baby salmon follow their parents to where they go back to every year and eventually when they lose their parents they can go back by themselves.
Common goldfish have the worst instinctive memory, which is where the phrase comes from. Most types of common fish take at least 6 or more experiences to have it ingrained in their instinct, but goldfish take an incredible 24 experiences.
This was proved in an experiment where an electric shock was pulsed through a wire with food attached. When the fish took the food they got a tiny shock and eventually they stopped taking the food.
Hope this helps!

Answer 4

When you walk by your fish tank, what do the fish do? They swim to the front of the tank and "beg" for food... What does that mean? It means the fish have associated humans (or even just a single person) with food. This means that they remember the human from the last time they were fed, and have repetitively seen the human when they got food. Yes, fish have quite advanced memories, not just instincts. Lol, you can't have a "selective memory"...

Soop Nazi

Answer 5

Well it depends what you mean by memory. Of course they don'r have a memory in the sense that humans do: they probably can't remember what happened in the fishtank a year ago or what colour shirt their owner was wearing yesterday, . However, as others have already said they do show that they can learn and associate events with the chance of food arriving!

Answer 6

fish are said to have a 3-4 second memory span although i keep tropical fish tiger Oscars and they know there owner when they see me if anyone else walks in front of the tank they swim and hide. they also know what food they have and if i drop anything else in that's not the same colour etc they wont go near it. so it makes you wonder weather they remember some things.

Answer 7

Apparently yes, that 5 second memory thing is a myth they can remember where food is up to a few hours afterwards.

Answer 8

Of course It ahs been proven. They have much mre memory than just 10 seconds.

Answer 9

well i heard they only have a 3 second memory spam!


my tropical fish always swim to the front when they see me tho so they must reconize me!

Answer 10

fish forget anything after about 3-6 seconds

Answer 11

Nope except maybe Salmon.. Though Salmon are probably driven on instinct rather than memory.. Still dont know how the find their way back to their spawning grounds ..Its quiet amazing...