Fish training log

I thought it would be fun to log how my fish training is going. With COVID-19 shutting everything down, I decided to try teaching my bettas some simple tricks. Extra enrichment for them, and fun for the family!

Does anyone else on here do "fish agility?"

Day one - target feeding
I'm using a metal chopstick to target feed my fish. Fathom seemed to catch on before Scuppy, but both of them understand that following the shiny stick = food. This will be the base of their training as I can use it to guide them through hoops and tunnels later on.

 

I'm following this adventure! How fun!

I use a syringe to feed frozen brine shrimp to my fish. My guppy being a top feeder and the platy chasing him away from the bottom of the tank during feeding, I tend to let him eat out of the syringe before injecting it into the tank where it tends to go to the bottom fast for my cory's to get some. My guppy goes NUTS when I stick the syringe in the tank, food or no food. I should try to train him too! xD

 

That would be fun! I heard guppies are fairly quick to learn as well. The syringe thing is genius

 

Day 2 - well today is fasting and water change day so no updates but they definitely get the idea of the target stick

 

Day 3 - Fathom really seems to enjoy chasing the target stick around his tank and getting food for it. Scuppy, however, is very hestitant. He's a smart fish, but he doesn't like listening to me in any way shape or form lol. Tomorrow is bloodworm day so we'll see.

 

Day 4 - I've started looking for things to use as tunnels and hoops. Fathom is great at following the chopstick!

Scuppy is a little behind, but he's fasting right now due to a little bloat.

 

Day 4 - I've started looking for things to use as tunnels and hoops.

Try shower curtain rings

 

Try shower curtain rings

That’s a great idea!

 

Day 5 - I found this old STEM set thingy that has these little hoops that were practically made for fish training, lol. Fathom does not like the idea of a hoop, but Scuppy caught on immediately. Lol. He's still skeptical of the chopstick though.

 

Day 5 - I found this old STEM set thingy that has these little hoops that were practically made for fish training, lol. Fathom does not like the idea of a hoop, but Scuppy caught on immediately. Lol. He's still skeptical of the chopstick though.

Funny cuz fathom was doing so well with the training and now scuppy is doing better with the hoops! I wonder if Scuppy will show Fathom not to be afraid of hoops lol

 

Funny cuz fathom was doing so well with the training and now scuppy is doing better with the hoops! I wonder if Scuppy will show Fathom not to be afraid of hoops lol

Lol they do seem to trust each other. Both are super docile males and they like to associate sometimes. Once I let Fathom into Scuppys tank (in a net of course, they could we each other but were separated) and they liked to swim together.

Fathom really doesn't like the hoop though lol.