Are Fish Like Labradors?

[JohnPH]

OK so I'm new to this hobby. I've had my tank running about 7-8 months and so far so good but still learning lots. I've been wondering this question for some time now. I have two labradors who will eat anything and everything that you put in front them (or behind or on top of for that matter). They would scoff as much food down as you could provide.

My question is, are fish the same or do they 'self regulate' their feeding better? In other words, if they always seem keen to feed and hungry, are their genuinely hungry or are they just greedy? I'm concerned I might not be feeding my fish sufficiently as they always seem to tear through any food that I put in the tank no matter how many times I feed them.

 

[homer1475]

Fish are most certainly like dogs!

They(your fish) have come to recognize you as the giver of food. so whenever you go near the tank, your fish think their getting fed.

Pretty sure I could add food 24/7 in my tank and my fish would eat till they exploded.

 

[sp1187]

they won't retrieve ducks.

 

[fishguy242]

they don't shed ,or bark,but are more attentive than most dogs

 

[ScottJ]

They don't sleep with you under the covers in bed at night.

 

[homer1475]

They don't sleep with you under the covers in bed at night.

OOh look another upstate New yorker! Well kind of upstate lol. Being in the reefing hobby, I wished I lived closer to you then where I do. It's a 3 hour drive one way to visit some of the awesome shops in your neck of the woods.

 

[JohnPH]

Fish are most certainly like dogs!

They(your fish) have come to recognize you as the giver of food. so whenever you go near the tank, your fish think their getting fed.

Pretty sure I could add food 24/7 in my tank and my fish would eat till they exploded.

That's what I thought. Thank for the confirmation!

 

[homer1475]

What was the name......

Pavlovian response.

Anyone remember that from high school? It was about a scientist named Ivan Pavlov that pioneered psychological conditioning. In his experiment he would ring a bell every time he fed a dog. After a while, the dog began to recognize the bell with food. After some more time he could get the dog to salivate by ringing the bell even though he wasn't being fed.

Same thing with the fish. Psychological conditioning.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have some that simply can’t get enough
My 15” vlamingi tang can easily consume 4-6 ounces of frozen foods alone on any given day

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

All the fish I ever had were hearty eaters, and would eat until they exploded I believe. But a couple of small meals a day will suffice; you don't want to pollute your tank with overfeeding.

 

[Katepete722]

I can only share that my yellow tang is so convinced that I'm the giver of food that she tried to eat the fresh super glue as I glued a frag down and glued her mouth shut. Even my labs aren't that dumb. Wait.....yes they are.

 

[kdx7214]

I had a puffer that was just as playful as my Labrador. Ate just as indiscriminately too, which is why it's no longer around. It decided, after a while playing with my fingers, that all the other fish were food and burst it's stomach. Miss that lil guy.