Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Do offspring of pellet fed Fish eat pellets?

I believe it is a combination of things. Monkey see, monkey do is the primary course of how fish are trained in a pond setting. Having fish that were previously fed and conditioned to eating pellets helps. Having a pellet that isn't pellet shaped is another (I think). i.e. RES have been notoriously hard to pellet train. Optimal Bluegill food isn't shaped like a traditional oval/round pellet. Is that the reason why RES are much easier to get pellet trained, or is it the food formulation? I'm leaning towards the shape, then once they taste it, they continue to eat it.

But, I also believe that having generation upon generation of pellet trained fish contributes to the offspring eating pellets too.

I've had, trained and worked with Springer Spaniels for a while (early 1990's). I've seen pups from great genetic parents (great field trial dogs) do things on their own without training that pups from a different pedigree (not as great field trial dogs) need months of training to "get". I believe fish are the same way (to an extent).