Do goldfish have a three-second memory?
Rated: False
1 of 5 on the fact-check scale
No — the evidence does not support this claim.
FalseTrue
The claim
Goldfish have a memory of only three seconds.
What the evidence shows
Goldfish can remember things for weeks or months. Experiments have shown they can be trained to respond to signals, navigate simple mazes, and anticipate feeding times. The 'three-second memory' is a myth not supported by behavioral research.
This summary describes a fact-check originally published by Live Science. FactGuard did not conduct this review; we summarize it and link to the original. Read the original fact-check by Live Science →
Sources
- Live Science
- Culum Brown, fish cognition researcher (Macquarie University)
Published 2026-06-07 · Last reviewed 2026-06-07
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