Fish can remember for months

LONDON: Australian scientists have claimed that fish can remember things for months, dismissing the myth that the aquatic animals have a three-second memory. According to the researchers at the Charles Sturt University, the traditional view that fish lack the brain power to retain memory is "absolute rubbish".

"Fish can remember the types of prey for months. They can learn to avoid predators after being attacked once and can retain this memory for several months. Carps that have been caught by fishers avoid hooks for at least a year," says, lead author Kevin Warburton.

According to Warburton, fish can also learn to improve their food-catching skills, carry out acts of deception and modify their behaviour. For example, in reef environments, cleaner fish that eat parasites off 'client' fish are on their best behaviour when they spot a larger patron.