Do goldfish recognise their own reflection?

[Twinkles]

My one always looks around at the sides of the tank,
does he think there's other goldfish around? Or does he recognise
himself :o?

Twinkles

[Mick Manford]

Twinkles > wrote in message >...
> My one always looks around at the sides of the tank,
> does he think there's other goldfish around? Or does he recognise
> himself :o?
>
> Twinkles

He is probably looking at the big old world out there. From inside the
tank there won't be a reflection unless you stick a mirror up.

When you look through the front of the tank the sides appear to be
acting as mirrors but it doesn't look like that from inside.

If you don't believe me stick your head in and look for yourself!

[Janie Thomson]

"Mick Manford" > wrote in message
...
> Twinkles > wrote in message
>...
> > My one always looks around at the sides of the tank,
> > does he think there's other goldfish around? Or does he recognise
> > himself :o?
> >
> > Twinkles
>
> He is probably looking at the big old world out there. From inside the
> tank there won't be a reflection unless you stick a mirror up.
>
> When you look through the front of the tank the sides appear to be
> acting as mirrors but it doesn't look like that from inside.
>
> If you don't believe me stick your head in and look for yourself!

Ah, right. Now I know what my cat's up to. She's not really being a
pescacidal maniac, she's just conducting a scientific experiment ;-)

--
Janie
http://www.janie-thomson.co.uk
http://clik.to/MEpages

[REBEL JOE]

[REBEL JOE]

[axemanchris]

Chimpanzees recognize their own reflections, I doubt that goldfish do. He's
just happy to see you!!

Jacqui

"Twinkles" > wrote in message
...
>
> My one always looks around at the sides of the tank,
> does he think there's other goldfish around? Or does he recognise
> himself :o?
>
> Twinkles
>

[Lord-Data]

Flo!!!


"Twinkles" > wrote in message
...
>
> My one always looks around at the sides of the tank,
> does he think there's other goldfish around? Or does he recognise
> himself :o?
>
> Twinkles
>

[Dark Phoenix]

"Janie Thomson" > wrote in message
...
>
> Ah, right. Now I know what my cat's up to. She's not really being a
> pescacidal maniac, she's just conducting a scientific experiment ;-)
>
Mine's doing it to slurp up the fishfood! She never even glances at the fish
themselves. At least, not when I'm there to watch...

--
Laurie, Dark Phoenix

"Every dog has it's day, but nights are reserved for cats." -

[E.Otter]

>He is probably looking at the big old world out there. From inside the
>tank there won't be a reflection unless you stick a mirror up.

Actually, if there is an aquarium light and the room outside is darker than
the tank the fish will see a mirror-like reflection. Just like when you try
to look through a window from inside your house at nighttime. If the light
is on in the room the only thing you see in the window is a blury reflection
unless you stick your nose right on the glass.

Supposedly a way to trick an aggressive fish into leaving other fish alone
is to put a mirror on the outside of the tank. So the fish gets preoccupied
with its "rival" in the mirror and leaves other fish in the tank alone. I
doubt fish are smart enough to recognize a reflection as their own image.
They will think its another fish.

E.Otter