Three Second Fish Memory Myth

Fish memory has been a 10 year research project at Sydney's Macquarie University Biology Department. Dr Culum Brown has concluded that fish can not only remember in the short term but also rely on long term memory. "It's completely ridiculous that an animal could survive without a memory," says Dr Brown.

The scientist devised tests which show that Australian rainbow fish could remember where an escape hole was in a simulated trawler net. One year after learning where the hole was, the fish found the escape route again immediately.

Further tests by Dr Brown simulated a predatory attack. When confronted with the threat of danger, fish were found to follow learnt habits. The subject fish would seek refuge in the same tidal rock pool they had discovered and used in previous predatory encounters "This suggests that fish are able to form mental maps similar to those people use when planning a route to a familiar destination," he says.

Past research elsewhere has shown that fish can learn to associate the noise from a bell with food. In Dr Brown's recent studies, a test was devised to measure the ability of fish to learn the meaning of symbols.

Fish were placed in an aquatic maze where up to four different symbols were used to mark the different pathways. By following the correct symbols the fish would be rewarded with food. Given enough opportunities, the studied fish became proficient in choosing the correct symbol. This suggests that the fish were capable of understanding a basic form of language.

Knowing that the three second memory of fish is a myth can help aquarium owners promote mental stimulation for their fish. "I move the tank around every so often and introduce new rocks and plants and logs,'' said Brown. "If you look at the amount of activity they engage in afterwards, they are far more active. The change can be a bit stressful for them but afterwards they love it.'' So now aquarium owners can justify that new aquarium ornament as a therapeutic distraction for their fish.

You can read about this and more of Dr Culum Brown's research.

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