Every morning, when my mom comes downstairs and feeds her Beta fish (Bellini), Bellini gets very excited.  And not just because of food.  If my mom talks to her, the fish wriggles and swims excitedly.  Also, the fish looks at her!  She seems to recognize my mom’s voice.  So, this has made me wonder: Do fish recognize people?

Personally, I think she recognizes my mom because my mom brings her food.  The fish only recognizes her, as mom is the primary feeder, suggesting the Pavlovian theory.  The Pavlovian theory is that animals react to the feeder, not the food.

“During his research on the physiology of digestion in dogs, Pavlov noticed that, rather than simply salivating in the presence of meat powder (an innate response to food that he called the unconditioned response), the dogs began to salivate in the presence of the lab technician who normally fed them. (Source- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_conditioning)

Also, evidence on other sites support my hypothesis:

“(A)t work we have a fish tank in the back office. The fish respond to the woman that feeds them and only her. They respond by following her back and forth as she walks around the work place especially in the morning when it’s feeding time.”  (Source- http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_goldfish_recognize_their_owners)

One study has found some evidence of recognition:

“The study by Dr. Paul Hart and Dr. Ashley Ward, of the Department of Biology at the University of Leicester, suggests:

• fish are attentive to who they interact with
• they use senses other than vision to find ‘friends’
• fish stick around with those who are most like them
• fish like others from the same ’neighbourhood’

The University of Leicester study, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, has important implications for understanding the dynamics of fish reproduction as well as environmental and habitat protection.” (Source- http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/environment_sciences/report-37023.html)

So, it seems goldfish (and betas) are a little smarter than you think. Hmm…they may even know you, if you feed them, of course.