i got a maroon in a 92 corner bow front this one has tons of personality, i have a mag 5 as a return pump in the far corner of the tank so she comes up next to the return pipe, chills for a second and then gets infront of the current and rides the current all the way around the fish tank until shes at where she was a second ago and she comes up and eats from my hand as well. but back when i had saltwater fish about 5 or 6 years ago, i had a yellow tang who would not follow anyones hand besides mines or come to anyone else besides mines either it was really really cool. i miss that fish ahah
Clown intelligence & interaction with owner
- Thread starter ACBlinky
- Start date
Re: Clown intelligence & interaction with owner
My female ocellaris does the same thing, but I think it's aggression, not hunger. You've mentioned how aggressive yours are, so perhaps that the case.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7341521#post7341521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ACBlinky
My 21g FOWLR, home to a pair of saddlebacks, is next to my computer desk. As I type this, the female is hovering in the corner nearest to me - I swear she's watching what I'm doing. If I get up and cross the room, she'll swim elsewhere, but as long as I'm here (and I was at this desk for HOURS last night), she hangs out with me! She's recovering from popeye and I've been spending a lot of time with her doing extra water changes, feeding her several small, nutritious meals a day and giving her meds. Are these guys smart enough to form a bond with their humans? I honestly get the feeling she likes me, but I could be imagining things
My female ocellaris does the same thing, but I think it's aggression, not hunger. You've mentioned how aggressive yours are, so perhaps that the case.
JHardman
Premium Member
Some things I have found with clownfish, rather it is intellect or something else is for someone smarter than me to decide.
1) They have excellent sight. They remember things they have seen, this includes people. They are very sensitive to color.
Examples of #1.
I have a dark brown robe that I will ware from time to time in the fish room. My clowns hate that robe! They get aggressive towards it.
My female Akin will only come to the front of the tank for myself and one family member, note I have note fed her in over a year, the other family member feeds her now. I often find her waiting for me when I come home at night.
My GSM female has a cycops problem, much like a crack problem. See can spot the cycops can from >20' and start "dancing" for it.
2) Clownfish are extremely time sensitive.
Examples of #2.
See above for Akin female greeting me each night.
Despite having an artificial moon light that is out of sync with the real world, my pairs continue to spawn in sync with the real world without any outside ques...
If for some reason the lights do not come on at the normal time or go out at the normal time, the fish still "wake up" or "go to sleep" at their regular times.
3) Clownfish come to trust people.
Example of #3.
I have a huge female A. percula that went thru a tough battle with internal parasites. It kind of messed up her swim bladder. I handled her quite a bit in the QT tank, and I mean with my bare hands. She eventually became used to it and found that there really wasn't any danger in it. To this day some two years later, I can reach into her tank and "pet" her and even lift her out of the water without her freaking out or trying to escape me.
I handle my juvi's a lot from morph on. I can to this day, still catch them by hand even though they are now spawning adults.
1) They have excellent sight. They remember things they have seen, this includes people. They are very sensitive to color.
Examples of #1.
I have a dark brown robe that I will ware from time to time in the fish room. My clowns hate that robe! They get aggressive towards it.
My female Akin will only come to the front of the tank for myself and one family member, note I have note fed her in over a year, the other family member feeds her now. I often find her waiting for me when I come home at night.
My GSM female has a cycops problem, much like a crack problem. See can spot the cycops can from >20' and start "dancing" for it.
2) Clownfish are extremely time sensitive.
Examples of #2.
See above for Akin female greeting me each night.
Despite having an artificial moon light that is out of sync with the real world, my pairs continue to spawn in sync with the real world without any outside ques...
If for some reason the lights do not come on at the normal time or go out at the normal time, the fish still "wake up" or "go to sleep" at their regular times.
3) Clownfish come to trust people.
Example of #3.
I have a huge female A. percula that went thru a tough battle with internal parasites. It kind of messed up her swim bladder. I handled her quite a bit in the QT tank, and I mean with my bare hands. She eventually became used to it and found that there really wasn't any danger in it. To this day some two years later, I can reach into her tank and "pet" her and even lift her out of the water without her freaking out or trying to escape me.
I handle my juvi's a lot from morph on. I can to this day, still catch them by hand even though they are now spawning adults.
smp
New member
Good info Jhardman.
Might seem a little off topic, but I have a female budgie that either LOVES me or HATES ME. If she has been alone for a little while and I come home she'll sit on my shoulder, make happy noises and nibble my ear lobe. If she's in a cranky mood, she will bite the hell out of my hand!
I've read that they have the intelligence of a 3 year old and the emotional capacity of a 5 year old!
How far from that are fish?
Most fish, probably pretty far from .. but clowns definitely seem like they are a leg up on a lot of other fish in the intelligence department.
I don't know if my clowns (A. Ocellaris) are bonded to me, but I sure as hell am bonded to them
Might seem a little off topic, but I have a female budgie that either LOVES me or HATES ME. If she has been alone for a little while and I come home she'll sit on my shoulder, make happy noises and nibble my ear lobe. If she's in a cranky mood, she will bite the hell out of my hand!
I've read that they have the intelligence of a 3 year old and the emotional capacity of a 5 year old!
How far from that are fish?
Most fish, probably pretty far from .. but clowns definitely seem like they are a leg up on a lot of other fish in the intelligence department.
I don't know if my clowns (A. Ocellaris) are bonded to me, but I sure as hell am bonded to them
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
True, but as opposed to fish, dogs have lived with humans for 10,000+ years - have evolved to `work' with humans better.
For many thousands of years we have lived together, they have become completely domesticated animals.
Fish, in comparison, are not really domesticated - and a century ago probably hardly ever saw humans.
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Jhardman, really interesting, thought provoking post. I agree, and likely my `old' Maroon does as well.
That is, when she's not trying to attract my attention by swimming with her fin expose - acting like a shark
gallivanmk
New member
I definitely don't agree with that about dogs. Dogs also interact with other dogs by wagging their tails. I have never seen Daisy give Cooper any food (in fact, she is always stealing it), but he still wags his tail when they play. My boyfriend feeds Cooper just as much as I do, and I do the same with Daisy, but when we go places, it is very obvious which dog is bonded to which person. Cooper will follow me anywhere, while he won't do that with Chris. Not because he will get punished if he doesn't, but because he wants to be with me. He has a constant supply of food in his bowl and he just eats when he is hungry. So, how do you explain him getting up and following me everytime I switch rooms? He always sleeps next to my side of the bed and Daisy on Chris's side...
Now, to get back on topic, I don't think fish are interested in being friends with us, but they are definitely capable of recognition.
Well I have had oscars for years and they are smart. As smart as dogs or cats? Probally not.
As for bonding, there are many documented storys of dogs and birds that actualy refuse to eat and die when their owner died.
I dont think fish can bond that way with humans but reconize "freind from foe" amongst humans they know and those they dont, there is no doubt in my mind about that.
The feeding response seems to appear in all fish but the longer lived fish like oscars, trigggers and clowns definatly show more intellect than a common guppy.
As for bonding, there are many documented storys of dogs and birds that actualy refuse to eat and die when their owner died.
I dont think fish can bond that way with humans but reconize "freind from foe" amongst humans they know and those they dont, there is no doubt in my mind about that.
The feeding response seems to appear in all fish but the longer lived fish like oscars, trigggers and clowns definatly show more intellect than a common guppy.
Flighty
Premium Member
I have always thought that critters which have complex social interaction show more of the traits which we define as intelligent than other critters (parrot flocks, dog packs etc) so it would stand to reason that clownfish who have to work as a family unit to protect their home would be a little "smarter" than other fish. To me it seems like fish who share a close pair bond like butterflys seem to be a bit more interactive and "intelligent " than other fish too.
Of course, what intelligence and happiness mean are a little too heavy of philosophical questions for a reef board, but how different is joy at seeing the guy who might bring you food from joy at seeing anything?
Of course, what intelligence and happiness mean are a little too heavy of philosophical questions for a reef board, but how different is joy at seeing the guy who might bring you food from joy at seeing anything?
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
There is no doubt most fishes have a level intelligence to some degree or another.
FWIW I believe Anemonefishes are among the least intelligent marine fishes. They rely heavily on the protection of their host anemone and warning coloration for survival in the ocean.
Here is a good book relating to this topic
FWIW I believe Anemonefishes are among the least intelligent marine fishes. They rely heavily on the protection of their host anemone and warning coloration for survival in the ocean.
Here is a good book relating to this topic
Amphiprion
Premium Member
Their aposematic coloration does indeed play a large role in their defense, as well as their anemone. The stripes also tend to break up the outline of the body within the tentacles.
falesdk
New member
I don't know much about fish intelligence, and I don't want to sound crazy by saying this, but...
My clowns recognise me for food yes, obviously, but they seem to recognize that I mean safety for them as well.
My 1 yr old daughter loves my tank, she loves peeking over the side of the tank, watching from the side and hitting the glass.
The mollies in the tank always run and hide from her, the clowns however as soon as they see me walk up, come out and start chasing my daughters hand across the front of the tank.
I assumed that they just came out because they wanted to be fed at first, but I tried feeding them off schedule (trying to teach them that the baby isnt too scary) but they wouldnt eat. My fish apparently are very used to our feeding schedule. So my only conclusion is that the clownfish came out to play once they realised that I was there and wouldnt let the baby hit the tank. The mollies however, will not come out at all unless there is food to be had.
I do think the clownfish are bonded to me as they sometimes swim up an down the tank as I wave my hand back and forth...and come right up to the front of the tank and seem to watch my face as I watch them...all this when they refuse to eat off schedule.
My clowns recognise me for food yes, obviously, but they seem to recognize that I mean safety for them as well.
My 1 yr old daughter loves my tank, she loves peeking over the side of the tank, watching from the side and hitting the glass.
The mollies in the tank always run and hide from her, the clowns however as soon as they see me walk up, come out and start chasing my daughters hand across the front of the tank.
I assumed that they just came out because they wanted to be fed at first, but I tried feeding them off schedule (trying to teach them that the baby isnt too scary) but they wouldnt eat. My fish apparently are very used to our feeding schedule. So my only conclusion is that the clownfish came out to play once they realised that I was there and wouldnt let the baby hit the tank. The mollies however, will not come out at all unless there is food to be had.
I do think the clownfish are bonded to me as they sometimes swim up an down the tank as I wave my hand back and forth...and come right up to the front of the tank and seem to watch my face as I watch them...all this when they refuse to eat off schedule.
