Is It Good to Talk to Your Fish?

Marine biologists have known that fish can not only hear sounds and feel acoustic vibrations but also remember wave patterns. We shouldn’t be surprised to know that fish react to sound. In 2010, researchers from the University of Auckland in New Zealand determined some fish are able to communicate through sounds they make when they vibrate their swim bladders. The researchers found that fish tend to be more active communicators when they’re mating and breeding, but none of the popular aquarium species they observed were able to make sounds. On the other hand, cod, gourami, and damsel fish are quite talkative to members of their own species. If you’ve ever been curious as to whether or not the fish in your aquarium enjoy being talked to, here are a few details you might find interesting, brought to you by the friendly staff at Aquatic Warehouse, a leading provider of freshwater and saltwater aquarium supplies.

Why Fish May Not Always Hear Your Voice

In the 2018 film Aquaman, the main character Arthur Curry is questioned about his ability to talk to fish, but he does so through telepathy, and there’s a good reason for this. First of all, talking underwater is virtually impossible. There’s also the matter of sound traveling very poorly between air and water. For these reasons, you’d have to talk right at the surface of the tank for fish to feel acoustic vibrations. If you scream at the glass walls of the tank, the fish will be able to feel the stronger vibrations, but they’ll also be scared, and the last thing you want to do is stress out your fish.

Fish Can See You Talking

Despite not being able to hear your voice, fish can see you through the glass walls of the tank. Fish can differentiate between people who feed them and those who don’t. They can even tell the difference (within line of sight) between the freezer side and the refrigerator side when they feed on frozen food. In the case of garden ponds, the Japanese Chagoi variety of koi are known to orient their vision toward keepers who feed them by hand. Fish that have naturally impaired vision possess sonar-like abilities to see their environment just like bats, and Mexican researchers have determined that even blind fish are able to distinguish human faces. If you notice your aquarium fish reacting when you talk to them, it’s because they can see you.

Cognitive Ability of Fish

Popular aquarium species such as goldfish are often thought of as not being very smart. However, Australian researchers have determined that goldfish abilities include wavelength detection, spatial awareness, and sensory perception. The combination of these abilities doesn’t translate into emotional intelligence. However, they do indicate memory retention and elucidation. If you talk to fish during feeding time, they’ll be able to associate these actions and remember them.

Talking to Your Fish Is a Good Idea for Your Own Wellbeing

In 2019, Scottish researchers reviewed 19 studies involving fish keepers and their interactions with their tanks or ponds. Although more research would be needed to make a more informed determination, there’s good evidence to highlight the human wellbeing benefits of the aquarium hobby. Keepers who talk to their fish in an effort to bond with them are getting more out of their hobby than those who simply go through the motions of doing aquarium maintenance.

Whether or not you decide you want to talk to the fish in your tank, you definitely need to ensure you have all of the necessary supplies to keep them happy and healthy. Whether you need an aquarium dosing pump, beneficial bacteria, a cooler or heater, testing kits, or any other aquarium supplies, Aquatic Warehouse has got you covered. Check out everything we have to offer on our website, come to our store in Kearny Mesa, or give us a call at 858-467-9297.