FALSE

The claim that goldfish have a three-second memory is a widely debunked myth and a common misconception 3 5. High-credibility scientific research confirms that goldfish actually have good memories and are capable of navigating complex surroundings 1. Studies demonstrate that their memory span can last for weeks, months, and even years 2 7. Furthermore, experiments have shown that goldfish can be trained to respond to stimuli, recognize different types of music, and even tell the time 8 9. Scientific consensus across multiple institutions confirms that goldfish memory is far more sophisticated than the three-second blip often cited in popular culture 4 6.