For some this will sound like a mad question or think me mad for asking it but I am almost sure that one or two of you wont think it so mad.

Examples ...

1. I always say hello to my fish at feeding time. They do respond to movement near the tank but respond to my voice even more and all come to the front and top of the tank, expecting food of course.

2. I have one female convict in a tank by herself next to where I sit in my lounge. I look at the tank and see that she is sitting a little lethargically amongst some plants. I say to her "what's up?" at which she slowly swims out of the plants to the front of the tank. I then say "are you hungry" and she starts to swim excitedly back and forward. so she gets rewarded with a small pellet of food.

Ok, they can't understand what I am saying, but I am sure they recognise my voice and probably associate it with food. Although I think like other animals I am sure they get different messages from the tone of the voice. For example I sometimes tell my fish off for being bad and they seem to know the difference. i.e. this is not the "do you want food voice", this is the "I've been bad voice" and they act accordingly, i.e. look guilty and sulk off to a quiet spot of the tank (sometimes)

I heard on a TV program last night that a horse is about intelligent as a tropical fish, lord knows where they got this info, but it kinda makes sense to me as I think horses are not as clever as some people might think and also that some tropical fish are a lot smarter than other people might think.

also reminds me of something Alice said ... "'no wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise."

Well....um....

Yeah. I do.

I would have made fun a while back when I was keeping different fish - but gotta tell you that when it comes to South Americans (I keep Discus & Angels) they do respond not only to your voice but to movement in the room and even specific people.

In fact - my Discus can tell Omega One Supercolor food from others. I've tried it. They will come to the glass if they see any type of movement toward the glass. But - if they see that particular plastic jar - I swear to you they wag like dogs.

I have one Discus - a Melon - who very obviously gets more excited to see my wife than anyone else.

So yeah I talk to them. I don't know if they can really hear anything - but they definately respond to any type of attention you give them.

I would agree that SOME species are more intelligent and aware than most people would think. Just like some breeds of dogs are smarter.

You mean some people dont talk to their fish
Have allways talked to my fish I have allways said that fish have their own little characters and traits, and yes they react to movement near and around the tanks. (Thinks pavlo's dogs)

I definitely talk to my fish. I greet then if I am just passing through or getting ready to feed them. Fish are great creatures that listens.... and don't talk back. Nothing better than that.

Glad to hear I am not the only one.

I agree with Gary that, from my experience cichlids tend to be a bit smarter than some other types of tropical fish.

My convicts occasionally will grab an algae wafer before the BNs get a chance to get to it. the wafer is way to big for them to eat obviously but I have watched as they will hold the wafer in their mouth and bash it against a bit of bogwood, trying to break and edible sized chunk off. In my opinion, this is a basic form of tool use that is usually more associated with primates and higher forms of mammals.

I'm not sure that I actually talk 'to' the Fishes.

I do sometimes talk 'at' them. Stuff like "Get out of the bloody way ya' pricks !", when the Cory's come sniffing 'round my hand, while I'm replanting. Or "Piss off ya' stupid damn Fish !", when the Guppies all group around my siphon.

The usual stuff.

Of course I do! It all started one time when I was beginner only and I did water change in very "unfortunate" way (I moved all fish into bucket and added new water from water-supply and then moved fish into the tank)... So the water was very cold, but I didn't notice it (the thermometer shown me 22°C which is quite enough, but water in bucket had 26°C I think) and all specimens got shocked and they nearly died . Since that moment I talk to them. Every morning when I wake up I say "Hi fellas", when I feed them I say "Good taste" and when I go to bed I say "Good night fellas" . I don't care if they hear me (I suppose they don't do so)... But they're my mates at all .

talk to my fish every day good morning, good night. i even have conversations with one my iredesent shark gills thats his name hes my oldest fish hes about to be 1 year old. when theres a new arriveal a tank i ask how does he or she like the new pad if there are any a-holes in the tank that i dont know about. i think every one talks to there fish, atlest every once in a while, but i think if you love fish you do it every day.