Do goldfish have a three-second memory?
No, goldfish do not have a three-second memory. Studies show they can remember things for months, learn tasks and recognize the people who feed them.
Scientists have trained goldfish to push levers, swim through mazes and respond to sounds and colors to get food. In some experiments, goldfish remembered what they had learned for several months. They can also learn to associate a particular time of day with feeding.
Goldfish can distinguish between shapes, colors and sounds. Some owners report that their goldfish swim to the front of the tank when they approach, but not for strangers. The three-second memory idea is a myth, possibly used to justify keeping fish in small, bare bowls.
Proper care
Goldfish actually need much more space than a small bowl. They grow larger than many people expect, often 15 to 20 centimeters or more, and produce a lot of waste. With a large, filtered tank or pond, goldfish can live for 10 to 20 years or longer.
Did You Know?
The oldest known goldfish, named Tish, won at a British fair in 1956, lived to 43 years old.