Cichlid IQ's...???

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Cloves4Oscar

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 16, 2013
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Saskatchewan
It's obvious that compared to most other fish CA/SA cichlids are quite intelligent and have their own personalities but I was wondering from your experiences is there a substantial difference in intelligence within the family? In my experience and observation obviously Oscars and Jags are very personable and seem much smarter and more in tune with their surroundings than the other cichlids but my little Cuban is starting to display quite the personality and seems to have a better handle on the whole survival thing than a lot of the other fish too.
I'm curious as to what others opinions are in regards to cichlid "intelligence" and how you would rate the individual species on a scale of some sort? Most would agree Oscars are regarded as the "smartest" and most personable but how do some of the others measure up?

Just for kicks and my own enlightenment humour me and share your personal opinions and experiences on this please.
 
I'd agree on the Oscar's being very intelligent and personable, also down right pigs!! Also, the Jag, I have a Freddy and it's just as intelligent and personable as the Oscar's. I'd also throw in Festae.
 
How CAN you? Mind you im going in here blindly im not aware of any evidence to prove or disprove im going about my personal belief and experience.


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Maybe instinctual response? I know my dovii is very cautious of his prey and I have not fed him dangerous food. Anyway, he seems pretty smart as far as fish go.
 
Maybe instinctual response? I know my dovii is very cautious of his prey and I have not fed him dangerous food. Anyway, he seems pretty smart as far as fish go.

Instinctual response yes thank you. But can you put your doviis prey in an upside down transparent cup and he find the way to flip the cup to get it? ;) No hes gonna bang his head against the cup trying to get it over and over and over...which is what im trying to say. :)


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To the op a fish being personable and it being intelligent can not be considered the same thing or can be measured equally to use as a comparison. Is a oscar or midas or other glass bangers more personable then yes. Is it easier to train to understand food comes from you and go greet you to the top when your there then say a tetra or other fish yes. Does that make it intelligent or smarter? How can one compare or measure this as an act of intelligence. Its adaptability to its environment and its food source. Also each fish has its individual progrAm in its head. Some are meant to be predators, some are ambushers, and some are preyed upon and their behavior reflects this.


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To the op a fish being personable and it being intelligent can not be considered the same thing or can be measured equally to use as a comparison. Is a oscar or midas or other glass bangers more personable then yes. Is it easier to train to understand food comes from you and go greet you to the top when your there then say a tetra or other fish yes. Does that make it intelligent or smarter? How can one compare or measure this as an act of intelligence. Its adaptability to its environment and its food source. Also each fish has its individual progrAm in its head. Some are meant to be predators, some are ambushers, and some are preyed upon and their behavior reflects this.


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Woofy, I read on here years ago a fella had trained his oscar to differentiate between a red and black food lid to know which was his food and which was not. Something like, the red lid respresented food and the black lid did not, the oscar would go nuts over the red lid but not the black.
 
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