Fish are not dumb!

[Rdurha1]

I think this could be a fun thread. I know that we all have fish that we think are extreamly intelligent, so lets share those stories.
One that comes to mind are my ropefish, both have learned to swim into the overflow in search of food, and after they have had their fill they will jump the barier back into the tank. First time I saw one in the overflow I was running late for work and figgured I would have to fish him out when I fot home latter, but nope he found his way out. I have since noticed them preformimg this act almost daily. Smart little buggers!!!

 

[tlindsey]

I think this could be a fun thread. I know that we all have fish that we think are extreamly intelligent, so lets share those stories.
One that comes to mind are my ropefish, both have learned to swim into the overflow in search of food, and after they have had their fill they will jump the barier back into the tank. First time I saw one in the overflow I was running late for work and figgured I would have to fish him out when I fot home latter, but nope he found his way out. I have since noticed them preformimg this act almost daily. Smart little buggers!!!

Yes I agree some species are very intelligent.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Recently read a book on this topic, called "what a fish knows" by Johnathan Balcombe. Was a good read; had lots of scientific evidence cited that supports the view that fish are more intelligent than often given credit for. About as intelligent as similarly sized land animals, and in some cases much more so. Some of the evidence was anecdotal, some was scientific and well documented. Overall I'd recommend it if you're interested in this subject

 

[islandguy11]

See my recent thread in this sub-forum titled 'Fish can be Artists!' -- esp. my non-fish keeping friends are surprised by this, they had no idea some fish (besides dolphins lol) had a level of intelligence that is equal to or greater than many land-based animals, as Gourami Swami says above (that sounds like an interesting read).

 

[celebrist]

I had a yoyo loach go down the overflow and into the sump. I figured he was there until I broke it down but a week later he was back in the main tank. I had my return lines split where most went back to the display tank and some went behind a foam baffle. He had to get past the foam and then swim up the secondary return, navigate the ball valve, ride the main return back to the tank and avoid getting shredded by the inductors on the outlet. He never tried to do that again and apparently told the rest of the school about his adventure

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Being both a fish keeper and a fisherman, I tend to find them not very smart. I have caught the same fish at the same place using the same lure more than once. By that I mean more than one individual fish as well as an individual fish more than one time. (Note- I use barbless hooks with my fly rod so the fish are not often damaged.
I also have caught fish with hooks already lodged in them from being previously caught by someone else. I usually can remove those with the tools I carry.

 

[PYRU]

This is why I keep puffers. My all time favorite was a porky I had 10yrs or more ago. Problem solving intelligence. It would want to get its head rubbed everyday when I got home. If I didn't it would spray me or in my general direction until I rubbed it on the head. Other people would walk by without spraying. Watching it hunt crabs that would hide in the live rock was very fun.

My current miurus is only 3" but is very devious. Its goal is to nip me if I don't feed it. It will bury in a strategic area close to where I'm syphoning etc. Then slowly work its way to a rock cluster. It changes colors extremely quick to match whatevers around then float its way up. It won't go bonkers but will def get your attention with the beak. Watching it adjust hunting strategies for fish is neat to. If burying doesn't work it will adjust to the angle of driftwood then float up and down it.

My bigger cichlids have been pretty intelligent, but just not on the same level.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

This is why I keep puffers. My all time favorite was a porky I had 10yrs or more ago. Problem solving intelligence. It would want to get its head rubbed everyday when I got home. If I didn't it would spray me or in my general direction until I rubbed it on the head. Other people would walk by without spraying. Watching it hunt crabs that would hide in the live rock was very fun.

My current miurus is only 3" but is very devious. Its goal is to nip me if I don't feed it. It will bury in a strategic area close to where I'm syphoning etc. Then slowly work its way to a rock cluster. It changes colors extremely quick to match whatevers around then float its way up. It won't go bonkers but will def get your attention with the beak. Watching it adjust hunting strategies for fish is neat to. If burying doesn't work it will adjust to the angle of driftwood then float up and down it.

My bigger cichlids have been pretty intelligent, but just not on the same level.

Totally agree, the puffers I have kept have definitely shown the most personable and intelligent traits over anything else I've kept.
My old marine porcupine puffer was something else. Its the only fish I have ever lost that I truly felt sad, rather than disappointed about losing. Was a real character and a true pet.

 

[Go_redfish]

'Nuff said. Lol

 

[islandguy11]

Hello; Being both a fish keeper and a fisherman, I tend to find them not very smart. I have caught the same fish at the same place using the same lure more than once. By that I mean more than one individual fish as well as an individual fish more than one time. (Note- I use barbless hooks with my fly rod so the fish are not often damaged.
I also have caught fish with hooks already lodged in them from being previously caught by someone else. I usually can remove those with the tools I carry.

Good points, growing up I saw lots of big king salmon with 2 or 3 lures in their mouths (and maybe even a couple more snagged somewhere else on their finds/body), you'd think they'd learn lol. But I guess it's just like with humans -- there are lots of smart ones and lots of not-so-smart ones.

That said, I think aquarium fish in general might be 'smarter' than most wild fish -- they got more time on their fins lol, fish in the wild are too busy surviving instead of making artwork or impressing us with their IQ.