As pet owners, it’s natural for us to want to interact with our pets. You want to create a bond with your animals but when it comes to fish, that can seem impossible to do. While fish will never wag their tail or purr like a cat or dog, can you get feedback from them?
The answer is a little complicated but it’s possible to create a bond with your fish. Here we’ll look into how it can be done and the science behind it. Let’s take a look!
The Science of Fish Perception
It’s easy to underestimate fish and their cognitive abilities. However, it has been shown that fish are capable of recognizing individuals, their own kin, and themselves. It’s important to appreciate fish relay on different sensory cues than humans and other land animals.
Fish mainly focus on sight, sound, and movement to navigate through their environment. Their sense of smell and ability to detect vibrations can help them to learn patterns of behavior, especially if their owner has a strong routine.
They also have excellent vision. Many species are able to see a vast range of colors and pick out fine details. This allows them to survive in complex underwater environments and plays in a role in their ability to identify familiar faces.
Evidence for Fish Recognition of Owners
There was a study completed in 2016 and published in the Scientific Reports journal that showed archerfish could recognize humans with incredible accuracy. How the study was completed was quite fascinating as testing fish intelligence can be difficult.
Archerfish can shoot water and were trained to shoot water at the image of one face. They were shown new faces along with the learned face, and were able to pick out the learned face with over 80% accuracy.
It showed that even simple brains are capable of human recognition. As fish owners, we can kid ourselves into thinking our fish recognize us. This study proves that, at least some fish, can remember a human face.
How Fish Recognize Their Owners
Fish can recognize their owners through a combination of both visual and associative learning. They can begin to recognize a face and associate that face or their movements with positive experiences, namely giving them food.
Fish are highly attuned to movement. They may begin to recognize patterns such the owner approaching the tank in a certain way, and always feeding them in the same manner. Fish can often associate the lifting of a tank lid with feeding time, for example.
Sound and vibrations can also make an impact. They can sense any changes to their environment and can often sense when a person is near. The fish can then begin to associate these other senses with positive behaviors.
Do All Fish Recognize Their Owners?
No, there are plenty of fish species that won’t recognize their owners. However, there are a variety of species which have better-developed visual and cognitive abilities. These species give you a much higher chance of positive interaction.
If you want to get a fish to bond with, then goldfish are an excellent choice. Along with goldfish, bettas, oscars, and cichlids are all great options. For those with a pond, koi fish can become accustomed to their owners and even eat from their hand.
In contrast, fish with poor vision or are less interactive are less likely to be capable of recognition. For example, bottom-dwelling or nocturnal fish don’t rely much on their sight and won’t have the aid of visual cues when trying to recognize their owners.
How to Build a Bond with Your Fish
Are you hoping to create a bond with your fish? If so, there are a few ways you can make it more likely. The first is consistency in feeding and keeping your fish happy. Feed them at the same times each day, and in the same manner as you usually do.
Spending time by the tank each day will also help them to recognize your face. It’s best to avoid any sudden movements, as this can startle your fish. You may even want to give them a visual cue, such as a hand movement, before feeding time.
Along with not making sudden movements, you should avoid disturbing the tank. This can include letting the lid slam shut, tapping the glass, or making sudden changes. You don’t want them to associate you with negative feelings,
What Fish Recognition Means for Fish Welfare
A lot of people imagine fish to be almost mindless animals incapable of much thought or memory. Research has shown that’s not the case as fish can form associations with humans and respond positively to them.
This shows they have a level of awareness which can be nurtured though care and respect. They are clearly sentient beings and should be treated with the love and respect that we give other pets whose affection may be a little more obvious.
Fish benefit from having an enriched environment and consistent care. They are capable of feeling emotion and need to be provided with a spacious tank, clean water, and stimulating surroundings.
Signs That Your Fish Knows You
There are a few signs you may wish to look out for to see if your fish recognizes who you are. The most obvious sign is excitement when you approach the tank. They may suddenly come more energetic as you get closer.
They make even follow your movement in curiosity. These actions are especially prominent around fish feeding time. They may even come closer to the glass, almost as if they are waiting for you to interact with them.
Another sign is coming to the surface and begging for food when you are nearby. The fish we mentioned above are especially prone to this behavior. They may even react to your voice more than they would of a stranger.
