Question for animal experts out there.

Are certain kinds of fish capable of habitual learning? I'm not just talking about hanging around the area where food usually is. I'm talking about doing something that would get food.For example, I have recently noticed that my fish african cichlid pushes against the thermometer causing the thermometer to clash against the glass and make certain noise whenever it wants food. After I've given it enough food, it will stop doing this to the thermometer. Next day when I'm around, it would attack the thermometer again to get my attention. I've tried an experiment where I just ignore the sound and not give any food. Well, the fish would continue to attack the thermometer causing this squeaky sound until I put in some food and it would stop doing it for the day.Is it possible that the fish actually learned that whenever it attacks the thermometer enough that there would magically be food?What are the limits of habitual learning behavior in animal such as fish? This is for the admins. Even though I don't believe this is a random thought thread, feel free to close it if you think it's not worth it. I'm terrible at judging what's good and what's bad.

On the Discover Channel show "Mythbusters" they were able to train goldfish to swim through an obstacle course using food as a reward. The goldfish improved over time, so I would classify this as learning/training. Anecdotaly, trout in overfished areas tend to be pickier, especially in catch-and-release areas. That is, they tend not to react to man made flies as readily as fish in more secluded areas, less fished, areas.

I saw that show, and it did indicate that fish can 'remember'.

Fish & Fisheries devoted most of the September 2003 issue to learning in fish. If you don't have direct access most and fisheries or Natural Resources group in your area should have a copy.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Lam,Have you ever considered whether that fish might be doing an experiment to see if it could train you?Verzem

That's cool.My fish is a perfect example of survival of the fittest in a fish tank. I originally had 3 of them in there. I got them when they were little. When they grew up a little, I began to see them chasing each other around. I didn't really pay attention. Then, one day when I got home from school I saw one dead, one barely living, and one attacking the barely living one. I seperated them but couldn't save the weaker one. Now, this fish has the tank all to itself.

theoretically, just about anything alive should be able to "learn" such behavior through classical conditioning...

Well, perhaps those with any form or "real" nervous system and a sort of brain.I've seen some stuff on TV about hissing cockroaches being able to learn to recognize individual humans. If true that is amazing.You can google it if you're nosy. If it is true there'll be something somewhere on the web I suspect.

nah, you're the nosy one around here.but yeah, it is particularly cool.