What is the memory span of goldfish?
It is a myth that goldfish have short memories. Scientists have claimed not only that goldfish have a memory span of up to three months, but that they can also tell the time. The fish, previously believed to have a memory of just a few seconds, can distinguish between different times of day and can also be taught to follow a routine, according to research. Scientists at Plymouth University have successfully trained the fish to collect food at particular times of day, showing the popular notion of the three-second memory to be very fishy indeed. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that fish are much more sentient and intelligent than had generally been assumed. Recent research has suggested that fish feel pain when they are caught on a hook, can be manipulative and socially aware, have long memories and are able to recognise their shoal-mates. The research, led by Phil Gee of Plymouth University, has added a sophisticated body clock to the piscine intellect. In his experiment
