Fish Have 3 Second Memories (i Know They Dont)

[Luke_e]

I've been curious, as i've always heard people say "fish have 3 second memories" (not on here obviously ), but its kinda obvious they dont, as when ever i open the tank hood they all swim up to the top as they know they're going to be fed, and i've seen scientific studies that trained fish to originate colours with activities such as feeding, or water changes.

 

[yvez9]

it's an urban legend
nobody knows where it comes from.

Like when people say you swallow 8 spiders a year on average while you sleep. All false, but someone somewhere said so and it stayed like that

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

^Now that's a rumour we can all do without! Bleurgh. Apparently a spider used to sit on my pillow when I was little (I was asleep at the time) until one day my Mother saw I'd rolled over in my sleep and it hadn't moved out of the way.....eeeeee.
I do remember hearing that 3 second rumour so many years ago, and sadly believed it for a short time. Before I kept fish of course. I'd say like most animals you get the smart ones and you get the stupid ones. Probably seen more in aquariums as the less intelligent wouldn't survive very long in the wild.
Hugs,
P.

 

[bunjiweb]

it's an urban legend
nobody knows where it comes from.

Like when people say you swallow 8 spiders a year on average while you sleep. All false, but someone somewhere said so and it stayed like that

There is no way to average it, but it is true that we swallow insects, dust and anything else which decides to land in our gaping mouths whilst we sleep.

Ben

 

[Synirr]

There is no way to average it, but it is true that we swallow insects, dust and anything else which decides to land in our gaping mouths whilst we sleep.

Ben

Or that decides to crawl into our lunches when we're not looking!
My nephew ate quite a few spiders when he was a toddler...

Anywho, I've heard that some species have a short term memory of 3 seconds, so maybe that's where it came from? Of course, that could just be another version of the myth, I don't know for sure. Human short term memory is only like 30-45 seconds

 

[Ethos]

I always believed the 3 second thing too. Now its just plain silly because all my fish come right to the top when I even move close to the tank.

For me since we have about 300 Billion Lady bugs around our house (no joke, I think they breed in here!), I believe I eat atleast 50 ladybugs a year. I should get a pic of our bathroom. One corner on the ceiling has prolly 20+ lady bugs all huddled together. I hate that bathroom...

 

[Dorkhedeos]

ive read that it was 14 seconds

 

[Ben]

I always believed the 3 second thing too. Now its just plain silly because all my fish come right to the top when I even move close to the tank.

That's only because they see you as the "Great Giver of Fish Food and Water Changes" rather then you personally.
But it still proves that they have some memory as to who gives the food..

DD

 

[Seb R]

I heard it was just goldfish that had 3 second memories, definatly not true though.

 

[trace1]

what was we talking about now i can't remember lol


sorry couldn't help myself i've heard the 3 second memory thing as well but like most peoples fish mine swim to the top of the tank when ever i go anywhere near my tank

 

[prankster705]

That's a pure genuine myth, don't you people watch mythbusters on Discovery, They acctualy trained 5 goldfish

 

[millym]

maybe it was so people who keep fish like goldfish in teeny bowls feel better..............the goldfish cant remember that its just swam round its tiny home so thats ok
our fish can tell the difference between when me ( the feeding machine ) and my husband walk into our lounge room.......he walks in they carry on pottering around doing their stuff, i walk in & they go mad swimming up the top of the tank trying to work out which end of the tank im heading for - even if i just walk in to drop my bag & sit down!

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Lol mine don't all come rushing out every time I go near them. All but one is in a high traffic area so they get used to ppl walking past all the time. They do know when tea time is approaching tho. They all start looking at me through the glass about an hour b4 it's due and looking pathetic. Funny to watch a big syno acting like it's starving to death when it's stomach is looking as though it just had a large feast.
None of them swim away and hide at any time despite the constant activity. Even the loaches are totally accustomed to the noise and bustle. They also respond to my voice depending on what tone I'm using etc and several love me singing at them (Must be tone deaf).
Besides, if a fish really had a memory span that short they wouldn't last very long. But like most things, many won't believe or care until they have their own experience. That and human beings are so convinced of their own superiority that how could something as simplistic as a fish possible be intelligent!
Hugs,
P.

 

[Ethos]

I actually think someone told me that in the 4th grade. My teacher had a fishtank in our classroom, a 50G. It had just a few tetras, mostly neons if I remeber right.
She fed them around snack time, and it was considered a huge privilage to help her feed the fish.
I wonder how many students after me felt about that tank...

 

[freddyk]

3 seconds sounds acceptable for a goldfish, and I doubt you can find a fish with a memory longer then 15 or 20 seconds (short term).

Studies have shown that some fish can learn from the examples of other specimens, obtain food using a lever, and other interesting learning abilities, but it's a process of repetition and conditioning.