Thinking outside the tank! The intelligence of fish – DW – 07/22/2025

DW

22-07-2025

07/22/2025 July 22, 2025
Are fish really dumb, mute and unable to feel anything? Or is that just what people think? In recent years, scientists have been discovering more and more about the characteristics and abilities of these aquatic creatures.
Fish are generally regarded as mute, expressionless creatures without memory, feelings or even a sense of pain. In reality, however, they apparently have a lively social life, great adaptability and genuine emotions. 'Thinking Outside the Tank! The Intelligence of Fish ' is a humorous and educational journey of discovery through the wondrous world of water, from the goldfish bowl in the living room to exotic coral reefs and the turquoise lagoons of Moorea, an island in French Polynesia. The documentary also scrutinizes the relationship humans have with animals' intelligence, in general. Accompanied by goldfish Maurice, the film takes a deep dive into the colorful underwater world and explores what forms of intelligence may be hidden behind fins, scales and gills. From the smallest stream to the largest ocean, in aquariums and laboratories around the world, scientists are proving that fish are anything but limited. For several years, researchers have been trying to understand what goes on in the minds of aquatic creatures. And the latest discoveries exceed all expectations. The documentary presents these astonishing findings and illustrates how fish perceive the world, communicate with each other and interact with their environment. What does goldfish Maurice see? How does he react to touch? Does he have a sense of smell? Is he able to adapt to his environment, use tools and perhaps even feel emotions? Scientists in Portugal, Polynesia, Britain and Corsica provide answers to these exciting questions. The documentary's animal protagonists include the empathetic zebrafish, the cichlid that fulfils its marital duties, the cleaner wrasse that recognizes itself in the mirror, the goldfish that can remember complex sequences for months and classify pieces of music according to genre, and the clever archerfish that can distinguish around 40 human faces. Who can doubt the intelligence of these fish?