Trained Goldfish
Status: Undetermined
Christine sent in a video of four goldfish who have apparently been trained to swim in synchronized patterns. They're definitely the best-trained goldfish I've ever seen. In fact, I didn't even know it was possible to train fish, but a quick google search reveals that I'm wrong. The Clicker Training site shows a film clip of a trained fish (it's the second movie down), and also has a discussion about training fish. Which isn't to say that the movie of the four trained goldfish is real, but I can't see how it's been faked. The clip looks like it was a segment on a Japanese news show, which actually makes it more believable. (If it looked like an advertisement, I'd dismiss it right away as a fake.) I'm listing its status as undetermined, but I'm leaning towards believing that it's real.Related Posts:
Jan 31, 2006: Goldfish Have No Memory
Oct. 25, 2005: Do Round Bowls Make Goldfish Go Blind?
Posted By: Alex | Date: Thu Feb 09, 2006 | Permalink |
Total Comments: 28
Category: Animals, Photos/Videos
Category: Animals, Photos/Videos
Listed in chronological order. Newest comments at the end.
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I quote myself:
"Now if you want videos of REAL trained fish doing their thing, go here:
http://www.fish-school.com/gallery.htm"
I am a fishkeeper. I now have 12 aquariums, and many species that are surprisingly intelligent. I have no doubt that fish can be trained, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to believe these fish are the gold-medal synchronized swimming team they appear to be. Food will make them follow, it won't make them swim in well-formed patterns. I've been around fish long enough to know how they are supposed to swim, and this is not normal.
Posted by Synirr in Texas on Thu Nov 30, 2006 at 07:37 PM
"Now if you want videos of REAL trained fish doing their thing, go here:
http://www.fish-school.com/gallery.htm"
I am a fishkeeper. I now have 12 aquariums, and many species that are surprisingly intelligent. I have no doubt that fish can be trained, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to believe these fish are the gold-medal synchronized swimming team they appear to be. Food will make them follow, it won't make them swim in well-formed patterns. I've been around fish long enough to know how they are supposed to swim, and this is not normal.
I have been in to the fish-keeping hobby for about 2 years, and I had goldfish when I was little, and the video is definately not real.... If you look at the fish while they turn, it is almost as if they are pivoting, and it is far too perfect for four goldfish to be doing w/o any assistance.and like everyone else has said above, they aren't moving naturally, they struggle at times, and ALL of the fins are moving way too slow for a fish to be moving that quickly.
Posted by B-Rob in New York on Sun Apr 15, 2007 at 10:28 PM
no way this is real...fan tailed goldfish cannot swim that fast and when they do swim they are so fat they waddle a lot...these fish look like theyre being dragged through that tank somehow =[
Posted by vic on Sat Apr 28, 2007 at 08:27 AM
I commented on this for the first time in July 06...
I still think that: yes, I'm sure fish can be trained. BUT, the syncronization and attention span demonstrated in the video, FAR exceeds that which has been done before, Now that's not proof that this is fake, but it does suggest that outside of this example, I've yet to see another demonstration on video, or documentation of this in any magazine, book, or records.
I also think it can be duplicated with the use of magnets as I mentioned in an earlier post.
Still fun to watch.
Posted by Scott in new york on Sat Apr 28, 2007 at 09:10 AM
I still think that: yes, I'm sure fish can be trained. BUT, the syncronization and attention span demonstrated in the video, FAR exceeds that which has been done before, Now that's not proof that this is fake, but it does suggest that outside of this example, I've yet to see another demonstration on video, or documentation of this in any magazine, book, or records.
I also think it can be duplicated with the use of magnets as I mentioned in an earlier post.
Still fun to watch.
i think its magnets...
by the way, i've had all kinds of success with training fish, but cant get any of my goldfish to jump out of the water.. they'll just about break the surface. big Gary, how did ya do that?
Posted by mattco in Bristol, England on Tue Jun 26, 2007 at 12:21 PM
by the way, i've had all kinds of success with training fish, but cant get any of my goldfish to jump out of the water.. they'll just about break the surface. big Gary, how did ya do that?
All the people who think that synchronized swimming is a simple task to teach fish clearly have about as much brains as the goldfish.
Posted by tashimojo in arizona on Tue Jul 10, 2007 at 09:13 AM
I agree that magnets are the probable "trick" here:
1. The fish movements do not seem natural either while swimming, or while turning.
2. It would be extremely difficult to train fish to be so well controlled, over multiple instructions, but even more so for a GROUP of fish to maintain synchrosity in such disciplined and controlled movements.
3. The outlandish mannerisms by the "Fish Trainer" gives the appearance more of a practical joke, than a refined and anxious performance.
Definitely magnets...
Posted by Mike in Melbourne, Australia on Wed Apr 02, 2008 at 05:10 AM
1. The fish movements do not seem natural either while swimming, or while turning.
2. It would be extremely difficult to train fish to be so well controlled, over multiple instructions, but even more so for a GROUP of fish to maintain synchrosity in such disciplined and controlled movements.
3. The outlandish mannerisms by the "Fish Trainer" gives the appearance more of a practical joke, than a refined and anxious performance.
Definitely magnets...
Yes fish can be trained, I have done it myself with my oscar. But I am sorry to say that these guys look like it is done by magnets. You can tell for sure in a few spots where they swim in an unnatural way. RIP poor lil' metal fed goldfish.
Posted by Some Fish Dude on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 02:48 PM
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