Do Your Fish Respond To Your Voice?

[Majjie]

I know this has been brought up before - but I just wondered what your experience is.

Most of the time that my fish respond to me I know that it's due to vibration. Believe me, when I move about - the floorboards vibrate considerably

They also seem to have very good eyesight. I can wave my arms about - silently and without any vibration - and attract their attention.

Just now, though, I announced to the four tanks in my living room that I thought it was time they had peas for tea. (I know ... I know ... it's a sad life I lead ). I didn't move - to attract their attention by either sight or vibration - and nobody paid any attention except for my large angelfish. S/he came rushing up to the front of the tank with dorsal fin moving backwards and forwards in an excited way.

Did s/he hear me - or is it just that it is very close to feeding time? (It can't have been the thought of the peas - s/he's not that keen on them )

 

[celaeno]

i think it was just a coincidence, but nice try anyway.

 

[cjohnston]

Never heard about voice, but they definately come up to the front of the tank to see me. FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Majjie]

i think it was just a coincidence, but nice try anyway.

Yeah - you're probably right

 

[cjohnston]

Totally understand where you coming from though, I like to think my cat understands everything I say to her, including my life story.

Its nice to think they do understand.

 

[Majjie]

Totally understand where you coming from though, I like to think my cat understands everything I say to her, including my life story.

Its nice to think they do understand.

Yeah - I used to talk to the plants until I had tropical fish. How much sadder is that? ... Well ok ... not much

 

[tmack]

I know this has been brought up before - but I just wondered what your experience is.

Just now, though, I announced to the four tanks in my living room that I thought it was time they had peas for tea. (I know ... I know ... it's a sad life I lead ). I didn't move - to attract their attention by either sight or vibration - and nobody paid any attention except for my large angelfish. S/he came rushing up to the front of the tank with dorsal fin moving backwards and forwards in an excited way.

Did s/he hear me - or is it just that it is very close to feeding time? (It can't have been the thought of the peas - s/he's not that keen on them )

This is a pretty "far out there" explanation, but if this were to frequently happen it could also be based on vibration. Sound waves cause a vibration of our ear drums (and our whole body if the sound is loud enough!) of which the end result is what we calling "hearing". Fish "hear" with their bodies (or maybe their lateral line?), as they have no ears. So, if the fish become conditioned to the vibrations of you saying that it's pea time, I suppose we might be able to consider that they do "hear" you?

 

[Majjie]

....... I suppose we might be able to consider that they do "hear" you?

I like it Or are you implying that I have a very loud voice?

I guess vibration could be different for a fish.

I read somewhere that fish also use their swim bladders in "hearing" - but can't remember how. Some fish apparently have very good vibrational hearing - the ones that evolved in quiet ponds and lakes. In noisy running water there's no point. Can't remember what sort of water angelfish are found in - in nature.

 

[tmack]

....... I suppose we might be able to consider that they do "hear" you?

I like it Or are you implying that I have a very loud voice?

I guess vibration could be different for a fish.

I read somewhere that fish also use their swim bladders in "hearing" - but can't remember how. Some fish apparently have very good vibrational hearing - the ones that evolved in quiet ponds and lakes. In noisy running water there's no point. Can't remember what sort of water angelfish are found in - in nature.

Hi. Nope - I was not accusing of you of having a loud voice. I was just proposing a theory to maybe back you up. On the swim bladder - I think you may be very correct on that being used for hearing - in fact I kind of remember reading that they do "hear" with their swim bladder. If you don't know what a swim bladder looks like - they typically look like little long balloons inside the fishes body cavity. It's a little bag of air covered by a thin membrane. If you've ever gone fishing for edible fish and cleaned them you'd know what I mean. That type of fish organ would indeed vibrate like a little drum with sound. But, it's main purpose is of course to give the fish buoyancy - increasing or decreasing the volume of air in the swim bladder is one means by which the fish can adjust the level it stays at in the water - the other one is swimming with body motions & fins! Amazing little creatures!

 

[luque]

not too sure about voice but my betta (the lazy bugga) knows when its dinner time. he spends all day under the filter then at dinner time he's up and looking for me to give him his food i do love him though wish he wasn't so lazy and i could see him swmming more.

luke

 

[tmack]

I know what you mean - whenever I walk by my tanks the fish all swim up to the glass. I'd like to think they just want to greet me, but what they really want is the food! I can see why folks can easily overfeed their fish when they respond like that to your presence, but if I fed mine every time I walked by the tanks and got their "greeting" I'd have some major water quality problems!

 

[Majjie]

Hi. Nope - I was not accusing of you of having a loud voice.

Only joking!

.................... Amazing little creatures!

Yes ... I once said to someone how amazed I was at how well platys could swim ... pretty stupid thing to say about a fish

I've looked up angelfish - seems like the blackwater streams of the Amazon are fairly slow flowing and tranquil - so I shall assume my angelfish just has very acute sensors

 

[luque]

the larger more centerpiece fish recognize me more than neons etc anyone else notice this?



luke

 

[cjohnston]

Actually yeah, my two rainbow cichlids (my boys ......ha had) always swim to the top of the tank when they see me.

Rule doesn't apply to plecs though.......or is it just mine.

 

[drsoda007]

You prob dont believe me but my fish come to the top ofthe tank when i make a certain noise (smack ur lips 2gether)

its cooL!