Fish & Invertebrate Behavioral Disorders

Question 1

Describe the techniques used to train fish.

Answer 1

A5- Fish Behavior Training and Enrichment

• Welfare- includes a behavior management program
  
  • Often neglected b/c lack of time, perceived low fish intelligence, and poor understanding of fish behavior
• Fish Ability
  
  • Sensory ability, learning and memory
  • Emotional complexity
• Benefits of Behavioral Management
  
  • Exercise and physical fitness- training allows for equitable distribution of diet
  • Cooperation with medical treatment and routine care
  • Mental and environmental enrichment
• Resolving behavior problems
  
  • Introduction to the Science of Learning
  • Respondent conditioning- tied to animal’s emotional state
    
    • Neutral stimulus + Unconditioned stimulus = Reflexive behavior
  • Operant conditioning * - changing behavior through consequences
    
    • Antecedent (perceived stimulus)- cues or prompts
    • Behavior
    • Consequence
      
      • Reinforcement
        
        • Positive* & negative reinforcement
      • Punishment
• Before training: Understand species, know indiv behavior hx, medical hx, learning is always happening, and take a behavioral and physical baseline, and prepare needed tools.
• Techniques for training
  
  • Capturing- marking and reinforcing behavior that fish naturally does
  • Shaping- gradually building new behavior in small increments
  • Luring- using food to guide a fish to desired position
  • Targeting- touch part of body to an object
  • Modifying problem behavior
  • Stress reduction, extinction, and redirection are primary ways of modifying undesirable behavior