Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons^™

Bait Shyness And Neophobia In Several Species Of Osteichthyes: An Extension Of Taste Aversion Studies To The Superclass Pices, Brent W. Roberts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three experiments were conducted with five species of tropical fish to investigate the phenomena of taste aversion and food neophobia. In addition, an experiment determined specifically if position in the tank could acquire conditioned aversive properties.

In Experiment 1 , four habituated fish were fed novel meat-flavored pellets on the treatment day. Six were made ill within 30, 60, or 90 minutes (2 subjects each) by intragastric administration of syrup or Epicac. The following day all were fed familiar commercial pellets. On the second day after treatment, all were offered the meat-flavored pellets. Results showed longer latencies, more tasting, and …