Can Fish Actually See Out Of The Tank?

InsideTheWall · Jul 14, 2011

monto said:
well it's all interesting stuff, i will never undress in my room now as i know my fish will be watching

well, not the tetras, they are pretty passive actually. the mollies go nuts when i'm around though. i love 'em

not my tetras they will follow me if I'm within
five feet of the tank

Proxo · Jul 14, 2011

My male green terror flares out at me from a pretty big distance when i'm near the tank, doesnt do it to my girlfriend though? lol.

clintsc27 · Jul 14, 2011

Fish are very aware of whats going on outside the tank. I know cause I see mine watching me all the time, and when I get close enough they are very aware of my presence as sudden movements will cause a response. Plus you can see their eyes following you! Every fish I ever had was always very aware of what was going on outside the tank. I even had a guppie whom I raised from fry that used to follow my finger around from the outside of the glass, and everytime I walked up to the tank no matter where the guppie was he would spot me and come swimming eagerly up to the glass to greet me.

mark2109111 · Jul 14, 2011

Discus fish can see clearly across the room and mine have actually (well i believe) watched tv with me lol :nod:

Hunterprey · Jul 14, 2011

Yes they can see through the tank for sure. My Datnoid points out where the Hikari Massivore pellets are when Im having trouble finding them...

willowstwin · Jul 15, 2011

totally agree that they can see out, and I also believe they have some form of facial/object recognition - we had 2 clown loaches at the tank here at shool, and they would ignore the kids but follow me around. My tetras respond now to me picking up the food tub (after only a week) and they also (worryingly) come to the from of the tank when I get changed (tank is in my bedroom)... that's creepy! But I figure they must like the movement of the colourful clothes

Dutsey · Jul 15, 2011

As soon as I open the hood of the tank all the fish swim up as if they know it is feeding time.

I have also noticed if I sit on the sofa by the tank my Bolivians Rams come up to the tank and give me the cute eyes.

Athena · Jul 15, 2011

My aquarium is in a similar spot to Gilli's - I come down the stairway, turn the corner and the living room door is there, with my tank situated on the far opposite wall about 18ft away, (facing the door). So, every time I come down in the morning, I poke my head round the door slowly and see all my convicts are just quietly sitting around. Then I stand in the doorway and they suddenly all whoosh up to the top in a frenzy, going mad because they know it means breakfast time LOL!

Even in my little convict fry tank in the dining room, there is one very friendly little "boy" who seems very nosey to see what I'm up to every time I walk in the room and he sits and watches as I make myself a cuppa (it's right near the tank) and then when I walk over to sit at the table, he swims over to the other side of the tank to watch me from there LOL

Yeah, of course they must be able to see out of the tank!

Athena

clintsc27 · Jul 15, 2011

totally agree that they can see out, and I also believe they have some form of facial/object recognition

Oh they do, this has actually been proven. Most fish can distinguish between different colors and shapes, as well as different objects.

wolfglen · May 4, 2016

Yes, fish can see out of water. Through the side of the tank they can see out as clearly as you can see in. Above the water there's a zone at an angle in which they can't see, just as there is an angle into the water which you can't see. We call this "glare" and we see the reflection of the sky or trees, while a fish underwater sees what looks like liquid mercury or silver. As to the question about not being able to see you hand on the side of the glass. This is due to reflection/refraction and it acts like to a mirror to us, but it's transparent to the fish, just like when you look straight through the tank. Once out of the water, most fish can't see because they rely on the water against their eyes to focus properly, however some fish like the gobies and other fish which routinely forage around on the mudflats have eyes which have adapted to being able to see out of the water.