Memory spans

[Tempestuousfury]

I remember a post form moths ago that stated that researchers on a tv show found that godlfish have memory spans of about three seconds. I take it that the research was conclusive. If so, does this length of time hold true for other fish, namely the tropicals most of us keep?

 

[Opcn]

That research was far from conclusive, infact I've never found any research that supports it,methinks its an internet rumour like the one about target beng owned by the french

 

[Phantom Thief]

I thought the Mythbusters busted that myth to the deepest pits of mythological hell.

P.T.

 

[corykitty516]

OK they did an episode of Mythbusters where they trained goldfish to do a maze thing so I think that 3 second thing is not true

Oh and my betta swims to the hole where I drop his pellets every time he sees me sit down at the desk. That, I think, indicates some kind of memory. I also know someone with a koi pond where at feeding time each day they gather waiting before the person goes to feed.

 

[CatLover]

Yea, the people on the show 'Mythbusters' proved that the 3 second rule is wrong, and goldfish can remember things for much longer.

I think a good way to test this with any fish would be to do like corykitty was saying. If you have a fish that failessly greets you every day for food, that's memory because it has burnt into it's mind that you=food, therefore it will react whenever it sees you. However, there is a possibility that if you don't offer food for a long while whenever you're around the tank, then it will stop associating you with food and won't repond when it sees you. It all has to do with memory though, and the extinction of the response of the fish could be used to prove that fish have very little memory by people who are skeptic. If you work with something long enough, you can teach anything to anything.

Sorry, it's early, and I needed by mindless scientific ramble of the day

 

[corrosive]

When i went to this big sea aquatic place thingy cant remember the proper name, they had a massive circle tank full of makrel(sp?) and they said, the reason they keep going in a big circle is because they have a memory span of 5 seconds, so by the time theyve done it once, they forget so they do it again, and so on.

 

[Fish Buddy]

Nah, I think they just say that because they have nothing better to say. Other programs like Daily Planet have shown that fish (they were using green swordtails) have a memory much longer than a few seconds. And if a small fish like a green swordtail has a memory, then surly a bigger fish like a mackerel (correct spelling) have a memory too.

 

[lucky62]

I thought the Mythbusters busted that myth to the deepest pits of mythological hell.

P.T.

those guys are crazy

 

[Griz]

Any fish with a three second memory would have ended up in the natural selection trash bin eons ago.

 

[Never2Bknown]

Yeah...
I know that the bluegills in my mother's fish pond all gather at the surface to be fed whenever any human stands at the right hand side of the pond. You can stand anywhere else by the pond without them even noticing you, but walk over to that one corner and they all flock around waiting for worms. They'll actually come and take the worms right out of your hand now, too.

 

[glolite]

When i went to this big sea aquatic place thingy cant remember the proper name, they had a massive circle tank full of makrel(sp?) and they said, the reason they keep going in a big circle is because they have a memory span of 5 seconds, so by the time theyve done it once, they forget so they do it again, and so on.

He He How long is your memory???

 

[Tempestuousfury]

I see. The you=human aspect of my relationship with my fish (no, it's not serious ) did pop into my head. But then there's the thing with my red wag mate trying to mate with my male gourami and being chased away constantly. You'd think they'd learn, over time.

However, I think instinct overrides their memory. For example, my female gourami used ot come to th etop of the tank every time I walked up to the tank. When I moved her to the 10 gallon tank, she kept hiding every time I walked by the tank. Took me over a week to regain her trust, and every time I make a noise while walking to or from the tank, she panics.

Oh well. But I suppose I agree with the longer memory span idea.

 

[ioNightShade]

I feed my fish once a day @ ~0800. They NEVER fail to be congregated (all 9 of them) at the top right of the tank @ ~0755...when I start opening the blinds in the living room. I always feed in that corner.

So, my fish must have at least a 24 hour memory.

JT

 

[Opcn]

the mackrel swin in circles because that is there mode of survival, no matter how long there memory is thats the way they mannage to live.

A good way to test (but a cruel one) would be to train your fish to eat out of your hand, then feed them oatmeal (which will expand once it hydrates) then see if they will eat oatmeal the next day, one time isnt enought to get the learning responce going but its certainly enought to test memory

 

[yvez9]

of course fish have a memory longer than 3 seconds. otherwise, how would some fish pair up for life or establish territories or a hierarchy within a shoal?

if they would always forget every 3 seconds, they'd pretty much die. They have much more instinct than humans are common household pets like cats and dogs still but they surely have a memory.