Clown intelligence & interaction with owner

ACBlinky

ACBlinky

Premium Member
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 :D
 
Re: Clown intelligence & interaction with owner

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7341521#post7341521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ACBlinky
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 :D
Click to expand...

Keeper=food. No bond, though. Clowns are not like puppies :)
 
I agree..not only with clowns, but it applies to almost every fish..

"OMG! I pet my puffer all the time!!".."He loves me!"....BUZZZ! wrong!..He wants food, so YOU=FOOD...
 
I don't think that any animal has the capability with forming a bond with humans. Think about it. Dogs don't wag their tails because they are happy, they do it because they have learned that doing that encurages positive behavior from their humans, such as feedings a belly rubbing.

Same applies with fish. You give them food, they "act" for you.
 
I have to disagree with you on the dog bond point, there is a vast difference on mental capacity between dog brains and fish brains... Yes there is being the dominant object of the dog but inherently there is a bond beyond I wag my tail because it makes the person who feeds me happy.
 
I guess she's just a pig who wants more food! It's still nice that whenever I sit here she wants to spend time with me, whatever her motive :D
 
My dog-face puffer changes color when I open the freezer door,, but not when anyone else opens it,, 'cos I'm the one that feeds him.

It's hard not to project intelligence or personality traits on fish that interact with us,,, but they are probably pretty dumb,, still cool though.
 
I also had a Pink Skunk clown that made really loud clicking noises when the halides went out (feeding time). You could hear it across the room over the noise of the TV.
 
Fish can be "intelligent" to some extent. However, do not mistake repetitive behaviors with intelligence. As MarinaP said, the fish associates you with food, therefore, it exhibits excited behavior around you. In my workplace, part of the uniform is red. Almost all the fish have learned to associate the red on our uniforms with food. It is actually very instinctive behavior. This can be taken a step further when a fish learns a different behavior in response to food (or what it associates with food, so you). Triggerfish and puffers (and probably others, such as goldfish) are capable of changing behavior, but it is all within instinctive capacity.
 
I have a very interactive relationship with my fish. I will put my face right up to the glass and every single one of them come right up to me and just waggle their fins in place and watch me. My girlfriend does this all the time too, and they NEVER come to her, in fact they hide. It is the weirdest thing. When someone new comes in the room, they all hide for quite some time, yet they follow me when I walk around the room. My copperband is the most animated when I come near. He watches us eat dinner!

Now, I'm not saying we are 'bonded' like I am with our dog, but they appear to recognize me, even if it is only for food.... so in essence, we are bonded in that way. They want ME to give them food, and they recognize ME as the food-giver, or so it seems.

I love those little guys :P
 
If my clown was actually bonded to me the little freak woudn't bombard my hand any time it was in the tank. As it stands that seems to be a avored pass time even after getting flicked in the tail.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7344864#post7344864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Thurge
If my clown was actually bonded to me the little freak woudn't bombard my hand any time it was in the tank.
Click to expand...
Haha, reminds me of my old Black Ocellaris Clownfish. You see, I have a freckle on the back of my right hand. Every time I would stick my hand in the tank, the clown would nip/try to nibble on the freckle :lmao:
 
my one clown whenever i stick my hand in the tank he goes crazy.. swimming all around me.. then i wave my hand back and forth putting it to the left then moving it all the way to the other side of the tank and he swims with my hand.. its really funny and cute.. the other one doesnt care for me at all.. and will swim away from my hand.
 
One of my clowns started this week "attacking" my hand while I clean the inside of the glass. He/she used to play with my hand, but now he wants to swarm at it!

Whenever I get close to the tank, they get really active and start bobbing up and down and wiggling. But I had company this afternoon, and they didn't do that for company.
 
My maroon gs is totally smart. When I had her in qt I was using a turkey baster to feed her, and when she went back into the large tank, I continued this. Now when the turkey baster go's in the tank, she swims RIGHT up to the hole and follows it.

I have black tongs i use for moving things or what not and every time these go in she attacks them

I think its cool how she spits food into her bta for later (of course the bta steals it ;) ) and that she swims away from her bta to poop. (only time she leaves it!)

Shes also very fung shui she'll move entire rocks, throw frags, totally redecorates.

also, i try to feed her the same times every day. and if im late and walk up to the tank, she'll swim up to me... yelling at me i assume lol
 
i have mostly percs/ osc now but i have to agree with you turkid. i hand feed all my clowns w/ mysis using just a pair of short forceps.

but i think maroons are the best clowns when it comes to personality. i had one a year ago, and it s face is unlike others :)
 
i have mostly percs/ osc now but i have to agree with you turkid. i hand feed all my clowns w/ mysis using just a pair of short forceps.

but i think maroons are the best clowns when it comes to personality. i had one a year ago, and it s face is unlike others :)
 
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