Can fish be traumatised?
- Thread starter L3CTR0N
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I have heard stories of oscars like that, one being where an O was rescued from a guy that kept it in a teensy tank like 30 gallons and constantly taunted or scared it. Apparently it always went pale and hid when someone with a beard (like the old owner) came by the tank
Just like fish can learn you represent food they can learn you represent harm. And if you're netting them out regularly, to move tanks or whatever, they learn real quick what the net is and as soon as you go near the tank with a net they'll hide before you even open the lid.
I would say no from what I've read and seen. Trauma implies psychological pain. It's really a higher level function that means emotional distress not physical pain or injury. It's not the same as learning to avoid animals that are threats.
For example, in areas where spear fishing is allowed, fish avoid humans underwater, while they don't avoid humans where it's prohibited. That's not emotional distress. It's survival instinct.
Of course, fish can recognize that owners provide food or represent danger. That's just not an emotional issue for them as much as it's an instinct to eat or avoid danger.
For example, in areas where spear fishing is allowed, fish avoid humans underwater, while they don't avoid humans where it's prohibited. That's not emotional distress. It's survival instinct.
Of course, fish can recognize that owners provide food or represent danger. That's just not an emotional issue for them as much as it's an instinct to eat or avoid danger.
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This is a tough issue. Do animals have emotions? The difficulty lies in our inability to communicate or otherwise detect what another animal feels. Anecdotal scientific evidence (comparative brain scans) in mammals suggests that they do possess a range of emotions. So yes, it is likely traumatic for a dog to spend time at the pound or for a cow or pig to be lined up for slaughter admist the cries of its compatriots. Do fish have emotions? Few fish biologists would use the word emotion for fear of being accused of anthropomorphization. It's only been ok to say fish have a personality for a couple of years now....
How does one measure emotion (Or lack there-of) in a fish?? will Dr. Doolittle please come forward.
How does one measure emotion (Or lack there-of) in a fish?? will Dr. Doolittle please come forward.
After one of my cigar barbs jumped out of my tank this morning at feeding time i'd hope that it felt some kind of trauma as the cat pawed it on the floor. Because if it did feel trauma i'd hope that it would learn from its foolhardiness and not jump again. But the truth is that the very same fish that was nearly eaten this morning would probably do exactly the same thing tomorrow morning if i was careless with the aquarium lid again.
Yes. I think that it is safe to say that fish can remember things.
Trauma, emotions, etc? Depends on who you ask. Some experts say no, many tree huggers say yes.