| It turns out that all of the old stories about fish | | | | levers online and the idea is that a fish learns to |
| having three second memories are untrue. | | | | use it through trial and error. At some point a fish |
| During recent scientific studies, fish have been | | | | will accidentally make the dispenser work and will |
| taught many long-term skills that they are capable | | | | receive the reward of food. The reward entices |
| of remembering over the course of many | | | | the fish to perform the same behaviors as the |
| months. | | | | first time and receive the reward again at a later |
| Dr Phil Gee from the University of Plymouth says, | | | | time. |
| "Research has also shown that fish can learn to | | | | At this point the fish is trained to use the lever. |
| distinguish between different shapes, colors and | | | | Conditioning a fish to respond to a command is a |
| sounds. They can even learn that pressing a lever | | | | slightly different task. |
| will dispense food at certain times of the day." | | | | One of your options is to wait until you see your |
| The applications of this newfound skill are still | | | | fish performing the behavior that you want, |
| being explored but fish farmers are set to | | | | perform the trigger (e.g. a unique noise like a bell) |
| capitalize on it by training fish to swim to feeding | | | | and give your fish a reward (e.g. food). Over time, |
| stations. | | | | if you do this while giving your fish a reward one |
| Hang on a second and read the results before I | | | | in three of the times that this works then your |
| teach you how it's done. | | | | fish will become conditioned to respond to the |
| At a certain time of day, every day, the fish will | | | | noise in this way. |
| respond to a specific, pre-trained noise and all | | | | For more complicated behaviors that your fish |
| swim to the same place in a lake. This even | | | | does not already use then do the same as above |
| works when the fish are in open water, free to | | | | only in stages building up to the final behavior. For |
| roam as they please. | | | | example, condition your fish to swim forwards on |
| This system is using fish's intelligence to better | | | | command, and then swim backwards on a |
| improve their quality of life and at the same time | | | | different command until you have trained it to do |
| keep the animal rights activists at bay. The fact | | | | laps. |
| that fish can be reliably trained to be called on | | | | The principals of classical conditioning hold that this |
| command for feeding and monitoring means that | | | | will always work the same way it does with dogs |
| the fish farmers can now keep the fish without | | | | and the dolphins that you see in sea world. |
| using cages. | | | | I hope that this article has at least been |
| -- So how exactly do I go about training a fish? | | | | interesting for you to read and maybe given a |
| What can I teach it to do? | | | | few hobbyists some ideas for their fish. |
| The most basic way of training a fish to perform | | | | If, by any chance, you are a fish-owner looking |
| a task would be through what psychologists call | | | | for fish related supplies for decent prices online |
| "Operant Conditioning". It means that the fish will | | | | then I highly recommend |
| learn how to operate a simple device simply | | | | "With literally thousands of items in stock and |
| because when by chance they do operate it they | | | | ready to ship, you can be assured that you'll |
| get a reward. | | | | receive what you need quickly. See us for |
| A basic type of operant conditioning device for | | | | aquarium lighting, aquarium filters, aquarium chillers, |
| fish is a small box with a sensitive lever that will | | | | external water pumps, tank heaters, protein |
| dispense food when the lever is pressed. To see | | | | skimmers and so much more. |
| a video of a fish doing this go here: | | | | We carry all the top brands with the best prices |
| Download the video and watch. | | | | you'll find anywhere online. Shop in our convenient |
| You see the fish operating a very sensitive form | | | | online store for brands like Mag-drive, Kent Marine, |
| of lever rigged to a food dispensing device. With a | | | | E.S.V., Dolphin Pumps, JBJ, Aqua Logic, Ice Cap, |
| little bit of thought, something similar would not be | | | | Aqua Medic Lighting, Sunlight Lighting, Current |
| difficult to make. | | | | USA, Neptune Systems and other leading quality |
| You can buy fish food dispensers with small | | | | brands. |