Goldfish memory is far better than three seconds

1'Goldfish only have a three-second memory' is one of the most repeated animal myths — and experiments have long disproved it. Goldfish can remember feeding routes for months, recognise feeding signals, and even tell different composers' music apart.

2In experiments at the University of Plymouth, goldfish learned to push a lever for food; when the lever only worked during one particular hour a day, the fish learned to gather and nudge it right on time. They remembered not just what to do, but when to do it.

3The myth has real consequences: believing goldfish forget everything in seconds led people to keep them in tiny bowls. In fact goldfish are curious, trainable animals that need space and enrichment — the next time you see a goldfish bowl, remember the fish inside remembers a lot more than you think.