NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, I've been wondering (for quite some time) about the credibility of the old myth about goldfish having a two-second memory and a resulting low IQ. Is there any truth to it? Please give me an article or something. (The Onion doesn't count,guys.)

OMG. That reminds me. We used to have these goldfish, some had grown incredibly huge, about 3 inches in length.

One day we decided to get this one inch long, blue, tropical fish.

And you know what it did?

It killed off all the fish one by one.

Eventually we had the tropical fish and an incredibly large and fat goldfish left. so one day I was just staring at these two and you know what I realised? The blue fish had fangs. It was so creepy.

Yeah, well one morning I woke up and went to the fish tank to see the goldfish (which was huge) floating sideways on the top. It was still alive, but a lot of its scales were gone and it was bleeding.

So we flushed the tropical fish down the drain as punishment.

I'm sorry, that was irrelevant.

I had heard it was a 7 second memory...

Anecdotal data: you decide --

My friend had a goldfish which would rise to the top of the tank for her father, and only her father, and stick its back out of the water to be stroked. Did it recognize him and beg to be petted, or is it weird coincidence?

I had heard it was a 7 second memory...

Anecdotal data: you decide --

My friend had a goldfish which would rise to the top of the tank for her father, and only her father, and stick its back out of the water to be stroked. Did it recognize him and beg to be petted, or is it weird coincidence?

Why would anyone do that? :eek:

I'm sorry, I have a fear of fish. I'm worried they might bite off my finger or something.

You all need to watch Mythbusters. 1)It disproves the myth, 2)Awesome show.

You all need to watch Mythbusters. 1)It disproves the myth, 2)Awesome show.


I was asking because I completely missed that episode. Come on, cough up. Gimme some details of the experiment...

You all need to watch Mythbusters. 1)It disproves the myth, 2)Awesome show.
I saw that episode.

I was asking because I completely missed that episode. Come on, cough up. Gimme some details of the experiment...

lol, Jamie and Adam set up an experiment which basically tested a goldfish's ability to navigate through a series of plastic walls with holes drilled in the middle for passage, with food at the last one. They timed them, and noticed that over time, there was a decrease of time spent navigating the maze, thus proving a goldfish's memory span being more than a few seconds.

Well, they made a goldfish obstacle course and put food at the end of it.
Then they taught the goldfish to go through and find the food, and their times improved significantly, thus proving that they have some sort of memory.

lol, Jamie and Adam set up an experiment which basically tested a goldfish's ability to navigate through a series of plastic walls with holes drilled in the middle for passage, with food at the last one. They timed them, and noticed that over time, there was a decrease of time spent navigating the maze, thus proving a goldfish's memory span being more than a few seconds.
Ah, a bad experiment. You can't use the same maze when doing those sorts of experiments. You have to use multiple copies. Otherwise, the animal just follows its scent.

That redheaded chick on Mythbusters is cute as hell. Seriously. Damn. Can't stand it. You'd think I'd be infatuated enough to remember her name, but apparently I'm not. She even has a shirt that has her name on it and I can't remember...

anyway...

If the snack smiles back, it can't be that bright...

Ah, a bad experiment. You can't use the same maze when doing those sorts of experiments. You have to use multiple copies. Otherwise, the animal just follows its scent.

Eh? Wouldn't any scent/pheremone trails in the water be greatly dispersed due to the volume of the water?

You'd think I'd be infatuated enough to remember her name, but apparently I'm not.
Apparently you are connected to the internet...

Eh? Wouldn't any scent/pheremone trails in the water be greatly dispersed due to the volume of the water?
Possibly, yes, but even the chance of it not happening makes it a bad experiment.

Possibly, yes, but even the chance of it not happening makes it a bad experiment.

True, but the water was also being run through filters, and periodically changed out, if I remember right. In addition, the mazes weren't up the whole time, just whenever it was time to feed. So, I think it'd be a neglible risk.

Ah, a bad experiment. You can't use the same maze when doing those sorts of experiments. You have to use multiple copies. Otherwise, the animal just follows its scent.
the experiment was to test the goldfishes MEMORY. so the maze would still be the same. however if after a while they removed the food and the fish still went to that spot to be fed...

Why would anyone do that? :eek:

I'm sorry, I have a fear of fish. I'm worried they might bite off my finger or something.
goldfish have no teeth... but it does feel weird when they do attempt to eat your finger... kinda like a small kiss.

Lafier']goldfish have no teeth... but it does feel weird when they do attempt to eat your finger... kinda like a small kiss.

MY FISH DID. it had fangs and bit the fish till their tails were shredded and it ripped scales off *Sob*

Given, it wasn't technically a 'goldfish' it was tropical fish that we put in fresh water.

I'm getting kind of freaked out, all this talk of goldfish. Maybe that's my phobia, since I'm not scared of heights and needles like my sister.

MY FISH DID. it had fangs and bit the fish till their tails were shredded and it ripped scales off *Sob*

Given, it wasn't technically a 'goldfish' it was tropical fish that we put in fresh water.

I'm getting kind of freaked out, all this talk of goldfish. Maybe that's my phobia, since I'm not scared of heights and needles like my sister.sounds like a family of Barracuda... there was one in a fresh water man made pond... it was real pretty... but the other fish avoid it like the plauge.

where did you get that Tropical Fish from?

Apparently you are connected to the internet...
meh...

I had a goldfish once that kept jumping out of its bowl onto the table. I think that it means it was "smart" since at least he had the good sense to kill himself, rather than swimming back and forth in a stupid bowl blowing bubbles all day.

Lafier']the experiment was to test the goldfishes MEMORY. so the maze would still be the same. however if after a while they removed the food and the fish still went to that spot to be fed...
You can't reuse the same maze. You have to make multiple copies and use a different one each time.

You can't reuse the same maze. You have to make multiple copies and use a different one each time.oh, I thought he was about the same maze shape...

I have a betta fish, and it appears to have a bit of an attitude. When I don't feed him as often as he'd like (about 4 times a day, the little pig!), he swims up to the top of the bowl and splashes water out with his tail. This was a problem in my dorm because he was beside my computer.

Lafier']sounds like a family of Barracuda... there was one in a fresh water man made pond... it was real pretty... but the other fish avoid it like the plauge.

where did you get that Tropical Fish from?

The fish market in Hong Kong.

Recently I walked by a stall that sold fish, and they had similar looking fish in a tank.. except they were a foot long. That is the stuff of nighmares, my friend.

Whenever I think of the fish, I think that by now it's probably like 3-feet long and lurking in the sewers.. waiting for the right moment to burst out of the sewer and bit off my head.

Why would anyone do that? :eek:

I'm sorry, I have a fear of fish. I'm worried they might bite off my finger or something.

Been "kissed" by goldfish before. They have no teeth, so it feels like tiny kisses on your fingers. Just make sure to wash THOROUGHLY after touching aquarium water.

Been "kissed" by goldfish before. They have no teeth, so it feels like tiny kisses on your fingers. Just make sure to wash THOROUGHLY after touching aquarium water.

or you could stuff your hand in your mouth, either one.

LOL, sure -- just remember -- your fish have pooped in that water! ;)

LOL, sure -- just remember -- your fish have pooped in that water! ;)

And fornicated! Don't forget they fornicate in that water too.

They eat, poop, sleep and fornicate in the same water *shakes head*

And people think that oceans, lakes and streams are so pure... :p /end hijack