Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Things I learned at the conference

The fastest learning fish is a Channel Catfish. Maybe that's why they are so hard to re-catch in a pond?

2nd fastest learning fish? Common Carp

Slowest learning fish? Black Bullhead

Hold up there, now.....seems we have had this debate umpteen times here on the forum. That whole "do fish have the capacity to learn, or is it conditioned behavior?" thing.

Are we splitting hairs once again, or do fish really learn??

We need a fish behaviorist, psychologist, or mentalist? Fish brainiac maybe? Fish squeezer probably won't do. brainiac (plural brainiacs)-(slang, sometimes derogatory) a very intelligent and usually studious, erudite person.

Ahhhhh..... come again? Those are some fancy pants words right there (assuming they are real words)

I'm not at the conference but apparently I need to increase my vocabulary!

Those fancy pants words were to describe someone who is well versed in the field of "do fish have the capacity to learn, or is it conditioned behavior? thing". Lusk contends fish cannot learn and as I recall he says it is something very similar to conditioned behavior.

I say they can learn!

But what do I know? I think animals are a lot smarter than humans give them credit for. And many animals are smarter than the average teenager! I told my wife once that if teenagers had a predator we would have gone extinct a long time ago.

Good thing you do not have children, because they learn, not like an animal, but they learn and grow as intended.

Maybe CC remember their conditioned behavior for a longer period of time, and their conditioned behavior kicks in with less "conditioning" than other fish?

Semantics aside, I know that CC in my pond and in a clients pond don't bite and quit feeding on pellets if one of their brethren is hooked, and even a pellet hitting the water a few minutes after feeder goes off shuts them off from eating pellets.

I think fish learn and I think some are smarter than others. I put 16 CC in my pond wild caught from the river. They figured out pellets in less than a week. Conditioned or learned?

re: "Things I learned at the conference"

That for my goals I need more and more Northern Black Bass!

All I know for fact is I cant spell half of the words in bill codys vocabulary......

Wish I could be there but unfortunately work and two year old obligations prevented it this year.

Personally, I think conditioned behavior and the capacity for rudimentary learning are two sides of the same coin.

I agree.

But I still contend we don't always give animals enough credit. I think it's due to our arrogance as a species.

Was it here where someone posted a clip of a problem solving crow?

Cecil=genius!!!!

I could not follow this thread, but my pet goldfish explained it to me:)

The first time you tied your shoes that was hard and a learning experience. Now you tie your shoes without thinking about it, that is a rut. Given eons of years it would become instinct.

A rat in a maze with food at the end will say take two minutes to learn where the food is. When he figures out the maze to the food and he does it much faster it becomes habit.

I content that all creatures think, and not like a teacher of mine that thought we are the thinkers and all lower creatures are instinctive.

We also are instinctive. Put a baby in a swimming pool and they will swim. Most humans are afraid of snakes. That I believe is from hundreds of thousands of years or more of dealing with deadly snakes.

In or around 1971, the state of Louisiana was going to pass a law where the plastic worm would not be legal in the state. It was the only lmb fishing lure where the lmb never learned not to bite. The state thought it would eliminate the states sport bass fishing.
I think all of Gods creatures are pretty smart. They sure can outsmart me sometimes
Tracy

for catchability, or are you saying someone just don't know how to fish?

One of the pond consultants, on stage of the conference, when asked what is the frequent question he herd. Was about problems with President Obama. Hahahahaha
Tracy

TGW1, I was 2nd from the right as you looked at he stage.

Sounds like fun!

Scott, you should consider another gig for this summer.

I went to a Rockwell Tech Training last Thursday. I knew the subject really well, RSLinx. My main reason for going was to get a hundred bucks off a USB to Serial converter that is the only one that works with this stuff, and needed one.

Like I said, I know RSLinx quite well.

I also know the instructors as well, but I put on my Vertex Learning Hat (Thanks Sue), and sat in the front row.

Class is beginning to start and have this 2 person station all to myself. Last minute, this dude walks in. Introductions, then he says this is some fancy stuff here. Yeah, well, some cables got tangled during the process.

The point is,
I learned a few valuable tips here that have caused hours of grief in the past. It was well worth the time and effort to attend.

Put on your learning cap, and listen.

An older guy told me once, Learn to listen, then listen to learn.

Conditioning is a form of learning, so it definitely does show some type of thinking going on.

For my money the most shocking (though perhaps least practical) thing I learned at the conference was that humble algae won't allow humans to learn its DNA. If an attempt is made, it will literally change its DNA to that of another type of algae!!!

I also thought the habitat study of Grand Lake and the freshwater prawn research was really fascinating & potentially useful.

But the best part was talking with other people who share my fascination with fish and the desire to make my pond the very best experience it can be for my family & friends.

PS My son had a great time. He is starting to catch the vision.

I was amazed to learn from the SDSU folks that a 7lb. female LMB will (and has) traveled over a mile in a 24 hour period.

And would be a 8 or 9lb female LMB if she didn't.

I don't know about Zep, but for myself I have no problems fishing. Catching is a different matter, though.