Do fish recognize people? - Page 2

slief · 10/13/2015, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark75

I don't think we answered the question?

Do they recognize people or the "thing" that food comes from.

People are a thing but if fish hide from one person and are attracted to another person regardless if said person is the one that feeds them, clearly they have some facial or general recognition capability. Even if that recogition is conditioned, it's still recognition. Based on that alone, I think the question has been answered pretty clearly. At least from some of our perspective. I've seen this same behavior from my fish as well as eels that I've owned.

Case in point.. Gorby was a 5' green moray eel I owned for many many years. This eel without a doubt knew me, knew me well and trusted me like no other fish. He loved to be pet, have his chin rubbed and belly scratched by me and would practically beg to have me handle him. He got very excited when I was near the tank even when he wasn't hungry. He was only like that in my presence. He trusted me so much that I could literally pick him up out of the water. Him and I had a very symbiotic relationship.

nuxx · 10/14/2015, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slief

Case in point.. Gorby was a 5' green moray eel I owned for many many years.

You my friend are crazy!

alton · 10/14/2015, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuxx

You my friend are crazy!

I will second that

Brando5185 · 10/14/2015, 11:19 AM

I don't know what is more dangerous, the eel or standing on the top bar of that step ladder.

Grandlotus · 10/14/2015, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g_langley

I think they are creatures of habit. We tend to fall into a feeding regime and they pick up on that and know when "it's time".

Ding-Ding-Ding.

Pavlovs Dog.

slief · 10/14/2015, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brando5185

I don't know what is more dangerous, the eel or standing on the top bar of that step ladder.

LOL.. 20 something years later and I still have the same step ladder and still stand on it the same way. Never once slipped either but I've had a lot of practice doing it every day for over 25 years. The eel on the other hand was a big baby. He loved being handled although he probably would have taken anybody else's fingers off unless he got to know them.

Blue spot · 10/14/2015, 12:53 PM

Never mind people , I've got a diamon watchman goby that watches the Simpsons . I kid you not. the theme song comes on and he comes right to the front of the tank and sits their watching the tele !

brett559 · 10/14/2015, 02:17 PM

Amazing pictures. I love seeing old tank photos. That tank probably had so many bio balls!

JobsaFish · 10/14/2015, 02:56 PM

It's a definite yes from me. I haven't experienced it with my reef tank yet, only had it a few months, but I had some cichlids that used to hide whenever someone new came in to the room. They would only come out again if me or the wife were there too.

Kyuss · 10/14/2015, 03:11 PM

When I had a FOWLR setup, my humu trigger definitely reacted differently to me than other people, whether I had food in my hand or not. If he didn't recognize someone he had a certain rock he would hide behind and peek his eyes out for awhile, and as long as it wasn't like a kid running around in front of the tank or something, he would slowly come out from behind his rock. Certain friends that I had over all the time he seemingly got accustomed to as after awhile when they came over he wouldn't go behind his rock, instead coming up to the glass to eye them up lol. Soon as someone new or someone who rarely came over stopped by, he was back behind the rock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzylak

It boils down to Pavlov's conditional reflex. . . . . ring a bell and the dog will drool . .
The intriguing part is the recognition details that the fish will pick up on. -Is it the face, the mannerism or what? -Certainly not clothing. . .

I thought I was the only one who fed their fish in the nude!

Oh and nice zubaz slief.

Wonton Soup · 10/14/2015, 05:18 PM

My fish will eat from my hand but not anyone else. And I too, have noticed that strangers often scare them into the rock but then if I walk over they swim out quite excited.

lilyep125 · 10/15/2015, 01:04 AM

Well, even if they can tell its the thing food comes from they must still have some ability to recognize people or shapes or something. When my bro comes over they all hide lol

Mrs. Music · 10/15/2015, 05:56 AM

Not all of my fish react differently to different people. My kids even say the queen angel knows me. She just swims around if you sneak up on her. But once she knows I am there she begs.

Greybeard · 10/15/2015, 08:40 AM

Used to have a big lionfish that would fold it's dorsal spines back when it came to the top to let me feed it. Anyone else came to the tank, with or without food, it kept those spines pointed right at them.

The fish's name was Paula. Named her after an old girl friend. Beautiful, but poisonous

10/14/2015, 11:19 AM	#29
Brando5185 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 129	I don't know what is more dangerous, the eel or standing on the top bar of that step ladder.

10/14/2015, 12:53 PM	#32
Blue spot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: England Posts: 590	Never mind people , I've got a diamon watchman goby that watches the Simpsons . I kid you not. the theme song comes on and he comes right to the front of the tank and sits their watching the tele !

10/14/2015, 02:17 PM	#33
brett559 In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 1,790	Amazing pictures. I love seeing old tank photos. That tank probably had so many bio balls!

10/14/2015, 02:56 PM	#34
JobsaFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Gloucester, England Posts: 2	It's a definite yes from me. I haven't experienced it with my reef tank yet, only had it a few months, but I had some cichlids that used to hide whenever someone new came in to the room. They would only come out again if me or the wife were there too.

10/14/2015, 05:18 PM	#36
Wonton Soup Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 194	My fish will eat from my hand but not anyone else. And I too, have noticed that strangers often scare them into the rock but then if I walk over they swim out quite excited.

10/15/2015, 01:04 AM	#37
lilyep125 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 65	Well, even if they can tell its the thing food comes from they must still have some ability to recognize people or shapes or something. When my bro comes over they all hide lol

10/15/2015, 05:56 AM	#38
Mrs. Music Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sylvania, OH Posts: 636	Not all of my fish react differently to different people. My kids even say the queen angel knows me. She just swims around if you sneak up on her. But once she knows I am there she begs.

10/15/2015, 08:40 AM	#39
Greybeard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Buffalo, MO Posts: 651	Used to have a big lionfish that would fold it's dorsal spines back when it came to the top to let me feed it. Anyone else came to the tank, with or without food, it kept those spines pointed right at them. The fish's name was Paula. Named her after an old girl friend. Beautiful, but poisonous