My Goldfish is smarter than your 5th grader

Did you ever keep a Goldfish? They really don’t get enough credit. 

Goldfish learning to drive. Photo: Rosen Zyulun via CNN

A research team at Ben-Gurion University developed a FOV (Fish Operated Vehicle) rigged up with LIDAR, a computer, camera, omni-wheels, and an electric motor that gave Goldfish control of the vehicle. 

Each of 6 Goldfish got 10 driving lessons and when they reached their target they were rewarded with food. 

Just like with humans, some of the fish were better at driving than others. 

Previous studies using a saltwater fish, the Cleaner Wrasse, have shown fish to be self aware, and this study takes fish intelligence a step further.

Fish are able to navigate around in their own environments without any issues, but now we know (at least with Goldfish) that they have the cognitive capability to navigate outside its natural environment! This opens up whole new possibilities for studying the navigational abilities of different animals. 

Work done a few years ago found that Sea Turtles off the coast of Africa were able to navigate back to the beaches of their birth, even after getting way off course, using the equivalent of Sea Turtle GPS. 

What do you think we will learn next? 

If you would like to learn more about the Goldfish study, check out this article link: 

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/10/world/goldfish-drive-intl-scli-scn/index.html

9 Pound Goldfish...no way is that possible...or is it?

9 lb Goldfish found in Greenville, SC Pond. Photo: Greenville County Parks Rec Center

Can you guess how much this goldfish weighs?

Park officials recently found this massive Goldfish, weighing 9 lbs in a local Greenville South Carolina pond! The average goldfish found in home aquariums will not likely get to be this large, however there is a possibility.

And this is how:

Goldfish and Koi, a type of carp, are members of the family Cyprinidae. If you go back far enough in their history, you will find that goldfish originated from Prussian carp. Through the process of genetic selection goldfish were bred to be smaller than Koi. While they aren’t as closely related as they once were they still have many of the same traits. So you can see how with unlimited resources and perhaps a genetic mutation, a goldfish could grow to 9lbs.

Next time you think about it compare a photo of a Koi to a Goldfish and see how many similarities you can find, I bet there are more than you might have originally guessed.