25 Common Beliefs That Are Totally Wrong

Goldfish Have a 3-Second Memory

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Goldfish Memory Myth The idea that goldfish forget everything in three seconds is a common jab at forgetfulness, but it’s completely untrue. Research shows goldfish are smarter and have better memory than most think. Experiments prove goldfish can retain info for months. They’ve been trained to link sounds or sights with feeding times, showing learning skills. In one test, they remembered to press a lever for food at a set time, even weeks later.

This myth likely grew from underestimating fish intelligence. Goldfish are capable of complex tasks, far beyond the "three-second memory" stereotype, proving they’re more clever than we give credit for.