Despite the fast transmission of sound in water, not all fish have notable hearing. Indeed a fish's ability to hear sound varies drastically depending on the design of the inner ear. Fish that have a connection between the inner ear and a gas-filled cavity, for instance, generally have better hearing than other fishes.
Yes, fish can hear you talk!
Sounds that are created above water typically do not carry enough force to penetrate the surface tension of the water, so talking on the boat or loud noise may not affect fish as much as your fellow anglers may want you to think. Your voice is unlikely to spook or scare fish away.
However, yes, they can hear your voice.
They can associate sounds with action, though. For example, if you are to say your betta fish's name – let us call him George – each time you sprinkle food in his aquarium, he will eventually associate the sound of “George” with food.
Although they have ears, many fish may not hear very well. Most fish have sensitive receptors that form the lateral line system, which detects gentle currents and vibrations, and senses the motion of nearby fish and prey. Sharks can sense frequencies in the range of 25 to 50 Hz through their lateral line.
As well as getting water through osmosis, saltwater fish need to purposefully drink water in order to get enough into their systems. Where their freshwater counterparts direct all of the water that comes into their mouths out through their gills, saltwater fish direct some into their digestive tract.
Fish Have Feelings, Too: The Inner Lives Of Our 'Underwater Cousins' : The Salt Jonathan Balcombe, author of What A Fish Knows, says that fish have a conscious awareness — or "sentience" — that allows them to experience pain, recognize individual humans and have memory.
Fish can develop an association between something they like, being fed, with the person who feeds them. The more you interact with your betta fish, the more likely they will be to recognize you. It's normal for betta fish to swim to the front of the tank when an owner comes up to it.
Summary: New research shows that loud noise significantly damages the ears of fish in the wild. In the first ever study of the effects of loud man-made, or anthropogenic, sound on fish in the wild, University of Maryland professor Arthur N.
Our study found that fish have prerequisites for self-awareness and related higher cognitive processes. The literature does not exclude the possibility of fish having a simple neural substrate that is capable of supporting these functions, but further research is needed in this respect.
The cerebral cortex and limbic system are absent in fish. Cerebral cortex, which is what permits other animals to cry.
Since sound doesn't travel well between air and water, loud talking or screaming will be barely noticeable to the fish underwater.
People aren't the only ones who raise their voices at each other; fish can shout, too. After catching some blacktail shiners—little minnows characterized by a big black splotch on their tail fin—fishery biologists placed them in tanks equipped with underwater speakers to see if noisy conditions affect communication.
Can your pet fish recognize your face? A new study says, Yes, it probably can. Researchers studying archerfish found the fish can tell a familiar human face from dozens of new faces with surprising accuracy.
Yes and no. Sounds above water, such as loud talking or music, do not penetrate water very well and rarely scare fish. However, sounds that transmit vibrations directly through water, like dropping pliers on the bottom of a boat, stomping on a dock or a running boat motor, can temporarily spook nearby fish.
Besides being able to see their prey and recognize their owners, fish also can see a range of colors, since they have color receptors in their eyes. Many species of fish can also see ultraviolet light, which humans can't.
Fish living in the deep sea manage to navigate in complete darkness. It's not strictly 'seeing' but fish have rows of pressure-sensitive organs running down each side of their body called the lateral line, which allows them to sense nearby animals from the pressure changes in the water.
To stimulate your fish's brain, give it toys like floating rocks and caves for it to hide in. You can even train your fish to do tricks like swim through a hoop or jump out of the water with a little practice. Keeping your fish healthy and active will help you enjoy your fish for longer.
Fish-keepers sometimes see their pets 'glass surfing' – swimming repeatedly up and down the glass of the tank. This could be the aquatic equivalent of the pacing of a captive tiger that's bored from a lack of stimulation. But the fish could also be stressed from an overcrowded or unfamiliar tank.
According to Balcombe, some fish (though certainly not all) do actually enjoy being touched by humans.
Groupers are not the only fish that enjoy being petted, it seems. According to videos on YouTube, other species of fish that appear to like the interaction include koi, cichlid and discus fish.
Do fish feel pain when hooked? The wild wriggling and squirming fish do when they're hooked and pulled from the water during catch-and-release fishing isn't just an automatic response—it's a conscious reaction to the pain they feel when a hook pierces their lips, jaws, or body.
Fish have nerves, just like cats, dogs, and humans, so they can feel pain. Hooked fish endure not only physical pain but also terror. When they're removed from their natural environment, they start to suffocate. Just imagine the horrible feeling you'd experience if you were trapped underwater.