Experts always talk about how we tend to anthropomorphize animals, but I genuinely believe that we are more alike than not, and animals are a heck of a lot smarter than they are generally given credit for.
I have an old cranky temperamental clownfish, and we definitely have a relationship. Like, whenever I introduce a new coral, or move another colony into "his space", he will attack it. When I see him doing this I will raise my finger at him (outside of the tank), and tell him NO! He responds to this, and after a couple of times of me doing this, he will actually back off and leave the colony alone! If I do nothing, he will keep going at it for quite a while, until either it topples or he gives up.
I don't know if it is the soundwaves from my voice, the aggressive movement of my finger or a combination of both. But he clearly makes the connection that it is a disapproval of the activity he is engaged in.
I have an old cranky temperamental clownfish, and we definitely have a relationship. Like, whenever I introduce a new coral, or move another colony into "his space", he will attack it. When I see him doing this I will raise my finger at him (outside of the tank), and tell him NO! He responds to this, and after a couple of times of me doing this, he will actually back off and leave the colony alone! If I do nothing, he will keep going at it for quite a while, until either it topples or he gives up.
I don't know if it is the soundwaves from my voice, the aggressive movement of my finger or a combination of both. But he clearly makes the connection that it is a disapproval of the activity he is engaged in.