A goldfish named Comet has been trained to play soccer, basketball, and even dance the limbo! He can also fetch and swim a slalom around tiny poles in his tank. Comet’s owner, Dr. Dean Pomerleau used the technique of positive reinforcement by rewarding Comet with food.
The two-year-old fish has been called the world’s most intelligent goldfish. Link -via Fark
Dr Pomerleau insisted there was nothing fishy about his claim, saying anyone can teach their pet to perform similar tricks.
"There is mounting evidence that fish are more intelligent than people give them credit for," the fish training expert said.
"With the correct tools and the basic promise of a food reward, fish can very quickly learn complex tricks - like the limbo, slalom or playing fetch.
"Now people in the market for a dog might want to consider a fish instead."
The two-year-old fish has been called the world’s most intelligent goldfish. Link -via Fark
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Somehow I just can't imagine cuddling up with a fish...
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This is like that toilet/keyboard germs report... every year now it seems to get dragged up again by someone. This is at least the third time I've seen something in the last couple years about goldfish actually having a memory.
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What a cool fish! (And owner.) I wish someone would give ME a food treat every time I did something right, though... Maybe I can be a goldfish in my next life.
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Adam and Jamie did something like this to test the goldfish memory myth on MythBusters.
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I'm pretty sure fish are just as dumb as we think they are. I had one that liked to jump up out of the water. One day he got overexcited and jumped right out of the bowl. I wasn't home, so he died. Real smart.
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