The test that shows fish DO have feelings

IT’S a slippery question for scientists – do fish have feelings too?

Well, according to a study, that answer may well be yes.

Experts found that fish who were put in a stressful situation showed a sharp rise in their body temperature – an indicator of consciousness known as ‘emotional fever’.

This phenomenon has previously been found in mammals, birds and certain reptiles, but never before in fish.

UK researchers divided 72 zebrafish into two groups. They were put in separate tanks containing interconnected compartments with temperatures ranging from 18C to 35C (64-95F).

Half the fish were left relaxing in an area where the temperature was a comfortable 28C (82F).

The other half were put under stress by being trapped in a net inside a tank for 15 minutes. They then swam towards warmer water that was 34C (93F).

Their body temperature rose by between two and four degrees – higher than the one to two degrees expected.

In the study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, the scientists point to this as evidence that the fish were displaying emotional fever.

Lead researcher Dr Sonia Rey, of the University of Stirling, said: ‘Expressing emotional fever suggests for the first time that fish have some degree of consciousness.’