Author Topic: Do fish have personalities? (Read 4986 times)

Capt. Hook · « **on:** August 21, 2011, 07:35:18 PM »

Do fish have personalities? Dumb question, probably but it is something that has crossed my mind.
I have 2 parrots at home, and whilst they display characteristics unique to birds and their species they each have their own unique personalities, the one is inredibly jealous whilst the other is an attention seeker. My dogs are the same whilst they are dogs they all have their own personality.
So this got me thinking, could one Dorado have a worse temper tha the other, could one Couta be more inquisitive that another Couter or one Tiger Shark more aggressive than another.
Personally I think so, but am interested in other views and opinions.

John F · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2011, 07:57:26 PM »

I would think not... remember parrots and dogs (birds and mammals) are a bit more evolved than fish or reptiles...

So from an evolutionary point of view I really doubt they have such a developed brain that would entitle them to have personalities/moods...

My 2 cts

YO-YO · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2011, 09:53:41 PM »

I dunno hey.... i had two Oscars, the one thought he was a direct descendant of a Parana from the devils chambers, the female was as placid as could be, she would eat gently from your hand and, she could be stroked on the back of her head.

And they would follow your hand movements, (okay, maybe thats the Parana in them) but i swear they could almost understand.

LGF · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2011, 11:27:28 PM »

Quote from: John F on August 21, 2011, 07:57:26 PM

I would think not... remember parrots and dogs (birds and mammals) are a bit more evolved than fish or reptiles...

So from an evolutionary point of view I really doubt they have such a developed brain that would entitle them to have personalities/moods...

My 2 cts

I tend to agree, keeping in mind that whales and dolphins are not fish and they do have unique individual personalities above their species personality traits, but dorries, sards, and so forth, not capable imho, not forgetting that there's a cardianl rule in nature that only the strong survive, and perhaps this can at times be taken as a diffirent personality than that of the rest of the shaol.

Just my humble $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000-00 ZIM Dollars (2c ZAR)

Rory mundy · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2011, 06:24:47 AM »

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:26:05 AM »

Hmmmm I think this is an interesting topic I would say yes and no... Fish personalities could be attributed to the way the fight how quickly they get released etc etc. I definitely think Rainbow Trout have some sort of personality, almost every fish bigger than 500 grams I have caught has acted in a different way while fighting it, handling it releasing it, I would say that these are possible personality traits... Just my 2c

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:45:24 AM »

The other question is if fish have moods

, this morning my 1 parrot was in a foul mood.

Ziggy · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:50:05 AM »

Quote from: LGF on August 21, 2011, 11:27:28 PM

Just my humble $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000-00 ZIM Dollars (2c ZAR)

correction - according to xe.com todays rate for the Zim dollar is: 0.02 ZAR = 1.00427. However, In January 2009, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe permitted the use of foreign currency in Zimbabwe in response to an economic decline that caused inflation levels of 5 billion percent. By April 2009, the Zimbabwe dollar was suspended indefinitely; the government now uses the ZAR, US$ and the British pound

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2011, 08:54:30 AM »

Quote from: Ziggy on August 22, 2011, 08:50:05 AM

correction - according to xe.com todays rate for the Zim dollar is: 0.02 ZAR = 1.00427. However, In January 2009, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe permitted the use of foreign currency in Zimbabwe in response to an economic decline that caused inflation levels of 5 billion percent. By April 2009, the Zimbabwe dollar was suspended indefinitely; the government now uses the ZAR, US$ and the British pound

BUSTED!

Ziggy · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2011, 09:01:32 AM »

Quote from: WalkersKiller on August 22, 2011, 08:54:30 AM

BUSTED!

....as always! I AM WATCHING!!!!!!

Tommo · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:11:54 AM »

I am of the opinion that fish do have their own character, or personality. Some fish are more curious or more aggressive than others of their species. Some are more cautious. Tagged fish that are recaptured often are clearly either greedy,curious or aggressive, whereas there are others of the same species living in the same place that never get caught and live to a ripe old age, obviously very careful individuals. Certainly their personality is not as well developed as other creatures', but without doubt each one has it's unique quirks....

Half-Pint · « **Reply #11 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:25:54 AM »

You only have to watch the fish in an aquarium to realise they do have personality. I have a siamese fighter that is so aggressive he has tried fighting a leaf in his tank! Attempts to introduce any tank mates failed miserably yet I have seen other siamese fighters successfully kept with all sorts

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #12 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:29:10 AM »

Quote from: Half-Pint on August 22, 2011, 10:25:54 AM

You only have to watch the fish in an aquarium to realise they do have personality. I have a siamese fighter that is so aggressive he has tried fighting a leaf in his tank! Attempts to introduce any tank mates failed miserably yet I have seen other siamese fighters successfully kept with all sorts

Bru please post a pic when you get a chance those fish are flippin awesome!

John F · « **Reply #13 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:32:57 AM »

I would like to have a definition of personality... wikipedia says:

"Personality is the particular combination of emotional, attitudinal, and behavioral response patterns of an individual"

I would like to focus on the emotional and attitudinal.... do fish have emotions? attitudes? I doubt so... their behavior (fighting, nervousness, etc.) may be directly caused by physiological responses to stress, hunger, hormones, etc.... but that is not personality!

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #14 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:33:34 AM »

Quote from: Tommo on August 22, 2011, 10:11:54 AM

I am of the opinion that fish do have their own character, or personality. Some fish are more curious or more aggressive than others of their species. Some are more cautious. Tagged fish that are recaptured often are clearly either greedy,curious or aggressive, whereas there are others of the same species living in the same place that never get caught and live to a ripe old age, obviously very careful individuals. Certainly their personality is not as well developed as other creatures', but without doubt each one has it's unique quirks....

My thoughts your words.

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #15 on:** August 22, 2011, 10:36:33 AM »

Quote from: John F on August 22, 2011, 10:32:57 AM

I would like to have a definition of personality... wikipedia says:

"Personality is the particular combination of emotional, attitudinal, and behavioral response patterns of an individual"

I would like to focus on the emotional and attitudinal.... do fish have emotions? attitudes? I doubt so... their behavior (fighting, nervousness, etc.) may be directly caused by physiological responses to stress, hunger, hormones, etc.... but that is not personality!

Perhaps, but fish have learned behaviour and respond to these circumstances differently, this is personality IMO. I am sure no where near the human level, but characteristics unique to that fish based on its life. Emoition, I have seen fish that are very angry and that is an emotion. But yes there is also instinct which is in their DNA.

Half-Pint · « **Reply #16 on:** August 22, 2011, 11:07:52 AM »

WK I'll post one over the weekend he is still a little guy though. Not yet into his full colours

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #17 on:** August 22, 2011, 11:21:51 AM »

Quote from: Half-Pint on August 22, 2011, 11:07:52 AM

WK I'll post one over the weekend he is still a little guy though. Not yet into his full colours

sorry for the Hijack FA

Capt. Hook · « **Reply #18 on:** August 22, 2011, 11:45:04 AM »

Quote from: WalkersKiller on August 22, 2011, 11:21:51 AM

sorry for the Hijack FA

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #19 on:** August 22, 2011, 11:45:50 AM »

Quote from: Fishing Adventures on August 22, 2011, 11:45:04 AM

Author Topic: Do fish have personalities? (Read 4986 times)

YO-YO