Do Fish Have Feelings?

[mrtrumpet]

Interesting article in the New York Times today. What do you guys think? Are goldies, Koi, and carp in general smart and capable of feelings?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/opinion/fishes-have-feelings-too.html?_r=0

 

[RobAmy]

I think they are capable

 

[Mike in Vermont]

I think so, too.

 

[Faebinder]

All animals are capable of emotions, some more limited than others though.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Not quite the exact same subject, but the scientific community is currently embroiled in an in-depth back-and-forth as to whether or not fish feel pain. Valid arguments have been proffered to support either side with neither side really gaining much ground. The pro and con camps on this subject seem to be split almost equally. Not such an easy subject to prove or disprove..

 

[peter hillman]

If you can feel them, they can feel you.

 

[Faebinder]

If they got mu opioid receptors then they can feel pain, which they do. I defer to vets about this, not a fish Doctor.

 

[morewater]

The real question is, would they respond to therapy?

 

[Smaug]

It's a fish,I catch fish,shoot fish with a bow and arrow and eat them with tartar sauce. Cows,sheep,goats,pigs and chickens are far and away more along the evolutionary scale then fish . I'd bet the aforementioned critters are capable of far and away more " feelings" then fish.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

I think koi are smug.

 

[Faebinder]

The real question is, would they respond to therapy?

Well you know what they say about therapy.... the fish will have to want to change for therapy to work.

 

[pecan]

why doesn't someone just ask the fish?

 

[KC Crook]

Fish know who feeds them. Scientifically they have very primative nerve centers so a stab to us, is likely a pin prick to them. If you are asking if a fish feels love? I would say thats a negative.

 

[mrtrumpet]

No, wasn't asking about love. Just found the article's author to be quite knowledgeable about the research done on fish emotions and thought process.... Sounds to me like they are more advanced than many think.

 

[KC Crook]

I hope they grow to love me instead of hiding all day, lol. My two blackies are never seen unless my fantail is laying eggs, then they are out chasing her, lol.