If you think goldfish don't have talent, check out Comet, a fish who can play football, basketball, and even knows how to limbo.
In most cases, goldfish are little more than household decoration: the no-maintenance pet for people who don’t want to be bothered to do anything more than scatter in some food from time to time. It’s often been claimed that their memories last no more than a few seconds –a far cry from Hachiko, the Akita dog who waited for his master for 10 years. Truth be told, as far as most people are concerned, goldfish don’t have a lot going on.
But try telling that to Los Angeles doctor Dean Pomerleau, and you’re sure to hear a good argument. His two-year old goldfish, Comet, is a piscine equivalent to an Olympic athlete: Comet’s collection of tricks include playing football, basketball, rugby, and even shimmying under a limbo pole. But Comet wasn’t born with superfishy skills –Dr. Pomerleau claims the fish’s remarkable abilities are a result of his positive reinforcement training methods.
“With the correct tools and the basic promise of a food reward, fish can very quickly learn complex tricks - like the limbo, slalom or playing fetch,” he told The Telegraph. “Now people in the market for a dog might want to consider a fish instead.”
Unlike a dog, a goldfish may never learn to shake your hand –but on the bright side, you wouldn’t have to walk him, either.