I am always surprised by just how smart fish can be and cichlids in particular. If our red devil and Oscars had opposable thumbs we'd be in trouble.
This guy takes the prize. This is Caligula the red Texas cichlid. Sorry for the biofilm. He just got his light back after it crapped out. When there was light again I saw the scuzz... and he saw a convict cichlid fry that had eluded him in the darkness.
The fry is under the lava rock. Realizing that he could neither reach it nor dig it out without scratching up his face on the rough rock, he tried another measure. He took one of his food pellets, set it in front of the rock (it's at 4 o'clock near his chin) and sat down on the gravel to wait until the fry eventually became hungry enough to come out and seek the pellet.
Consider this. He decided he wanted the fry more than the pellet and was willing to go to considerable effort to get it (decision-making, setting priorities and goals). He used his food pellet as a lure, knowing that the fry would be hungry and eventually go for it (understanding the minds and motivations of others, anticipating their actions). He sat down for a long wait (delayed gratification, patience). Human children have difficulty with these concepts. Good going, Caligula!
He is certainly not unique though. Who else has observed remarkable intelligence in their fish? Stories?
This guy takes the prize. This is Caligula the red Texas cichlid. Sorry for the biofilm. He just got his light back after it crapped out. When there was light again I saw the scuzz... and he saw a convict cichlid fry that had eluded him in the darkness.
The fry is under the lava rock. Realizing that he could neither reach it nor dig it out without scratching up his face on the rough rock, he tried another measure. He took one of his food pellets, set it in front of the rock (it's at 4 o'clock near his chin) and sat down on the gravel to wait until the fry eventually became hungry enough to come out and seek the pellet.
Consider this. He decided he wanted the fry more than the pellet and was willing to go to considerable effort to get it (decision-making, setting priorities and goals). He used his food pellet as a lure, knowing that the fry would be hungry and eventually go for it (understanding the minds and motivations of others, anticipating their actions). He sat down for a long wait (delayed gratification, patience). Human children have difficulty with these concepts. Good going, Caligula!
He is certainly not unique though. Who else has observed remarkable intelligence in their fish? Stories?
