Mechanisms and extent of information transfer in socially foraging guppies, Poecilia reticulata

► We investigate how and how much information fish can learn from other fish. ► Guppies follow the first individual to leave the shoal: the bold individual. ► Boldness was generally associated with knowledge of where food was to be found. ► Leaders did not consider their shoal members when choosing where to forage. ► Animals that learn by copying are limited in the amount of information they can receive.