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.
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Comments
I don't think I'd have the patience...
I also didn't know fish could be trained. Adorable.
You've been smoking too much of that Arkansas Polio Weed.
As I said, it's really not all that hard to train fish to do simple things. Mostly, it requires a lot of patience.
I don't doubt someone could train four fish to swim in formation. Odd hobbies are legion.
But what's with that peculiar white hat?
You're on the money. JET is a Taiwanese channel that regularly carry voiced over Japanese programming. I believe their redubs are also regularly sold to other TV networks. The channel is available over cable in Singapore, and some of their programming is available over another channel over here in Malaysia.
Perhaps they've been fed by hand & its natural to follow that hand looking for food...
Now if you want videos of REAL trained fish doing their thing, go here:
http://www.fish-school.com/gallery.htm
I would bet that the vid clip being discussed is performed in exactly the same manor because:
1) Goldfish normally swim perpendicular to the ground, and not flat like flounder or stingray.
2) The amount of water used will not allow the fish to swim perpendicular to the ground, or flip over, therefore only allowing the magnetic side to always remain close to the bottom of the shallow tank. This position and the amount of water also assures that the fish can't get a full "tail-swing" to enable enough force to break free from the magnetic pull.
I suspect that the reason we don't see this much outside of Japan or Singapore (or other fish "friendly" countries), is because our animal rights laws (here in the United States) would destroy the act before anyone could turn a profit.
Most likely, animal rights activists would close down any demonstration of animal (fishes included) cruelty, much the way they have done in the past, (I.E.: "The Tap Dancing Chicken")
Hope this helps, and also hope this doesn't become the next craze for kids, like the mentos and soda experiment which has no doubt caused a few extra paint jobs here and there.
PS: Love your site!
I do know that the exploitation of any living species seems to always have some sort of group waiting in the wings, ready to slam down some sort of "morality" issue. I could easily see how "modifying a goldfish with glue and magnets for personal gain" could end up on the evening news here in New York.
"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 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.
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?
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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...