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Fish Training Methods

Fish training methods are becoming more and more popular. There was a time, not so long ago, that fish were believed to be somewhat stupid and unable to build relationships. Recent research dispels that myth.

Far and wide, the practice of training fish is a relatively new phenomenon. College professors have used pets for years to help students understand the ideals behind mind control and the social relationships of animals as well as animal to human relations. More recently, those same professors have begun to use goldfish to help exhibit these principals.

Their trials have found that fish are responsive to reward-based training methods which incorporate a “food for tricks” exchange. These fish respond to the presence of a variety of visual cues from flickering light bulbs to tapping on the side of the fish tank to initiate their particular trick, culminating in the payoff of a tasty snack for their compliance. These tricks range from swimming under or over a particular structure or object to jumping out of the water.

Scientists are still researching how deep-rooted the memory of the average fish is. There are studies to confirm that fish do have the capability to remember certain training tasks for up to three months or more. More research will need to be done to continually confirm these behaviors.

For the home aquarium enthusiast, a little research of their own might be just the thing to encourage fish training. Cichlids have long been heralded for their intelligence and have been studied for their trainability, in addition to goldfish. Some websites even claim that fish are able to learn how to play with balls and swim through hoops.

If you’ve owned fish for any length of time you have certainly noticed that your fish respond to you at feeding time or when you turn the aquarium light on. Most of your fish may be all too happy to swim to the surface and linger there while you open the tank hood and drop in their dinner. Some will “follow” you as you walk by the tank waiting for you to feed them. It is obvious from this type of behavior that fish have long been underrated.

Given the progression in animal understanding over the last several years, it is easy to believe that you too can train your fish. Research can help you narrow down the best fish training methods for you and your fish.

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