Are fish intelligent?

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Aug 17, 2005
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Do you think fish have intelligence, contrary to popular (and erroneous) beliefs about them having barely a 3 second memory?

Which fish (in the aquarium) do you think is the most intelligent of all? Traits like being able to recognize objects and people, being playful and can interact with the owner, in essence, being more of a pet. I've heard oscars are, but i never kept them before?

Are the fish we keep in aquariums truly intelligent? And if so, which ones do you think are the most?
 
They tested the so called 3 second myth on mythbusters, they trained the fish (gold fish) to swim a maze that lasted between 30 seconds to a minute, and the gold fish demistrated memory longer the 3 seconds, and I have read that Angel fish are very inteligant, along with bettas they can learn that, that massive monster 50x its own size (its owner) is the source of food, other fish can learn this type of stuff too.
 
I know that my cousins oscar knows when he comes home or when he approches the tank. If I come to the tank he backs off but my counsin comes to the tank he goes to him...
 
Instinct, conditioned patterns is common with any fish that learn routine through repetition. The person who feeds. Mine don't even fear my hand in the tank and come around it, hoping I'll notice them, they crowd together and forget who they're hovering next to in hopes I drop in something edible.
But when they can't see me, they go back to buisness as usual. Some are friends, some tolerate each other, and some just can't stand the sight of that guy. But yet they form a cohesive community, as if to say 'we're stuck together so, let's make the best of it.' I suppose this is a sign of intelligence?
 
Even single cell organisms can show a response to stimuli ...

Answer me this: What's the difference between a conditioned response and intelligence?
 
Some fish are smarter than others. Clown loaches are the smartest fish I have. Neon Tetras are probably my stupidest.

I have 4 large tanks that are linked together with water-bridges. The Clown Loaches are the only fish I have that regulary use them. The Clowns know their way around my network of tanks like they were rooms to house. The Tetras and Rainbowfish stay schooled together with their own species for the most part, so they don't move around from tank to tank. Every now and then, I see a lone beaten up male Tiger Barb that swims over to another tank because he lost a fight.
 
don't know how intelligent they are... my angels come to the top of the tank when I walk up. They're little piggies so they want food. I will say that fish definately have personalities, though, except it's hard to say about my neons. they just school and nothing else.
 
jaylin said:
Answer me this: What's the difference between a conditioned response and intelligence?
Click to expand...

Wether or not the animals know theyre reacting. Awareness.
 
I think it has more to do with how aware they are of the outside of the tank than how aware they are of the potential to be fed.
 
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