Fish Teaching Bad Habits

[kuja]

Most lionfish have the bad habit of sticking their heads out of the water as a form of begging for food. If they have a very impatient lionfish it will squirt their owners with water in order to receive food faster. I have tried to stop Spiky from doing this bad behavior, but now he does it more often (probably just to prove who is boss ). Anyways Foxy (magnificent foxface) is now copying Spiky by sticking her head out of the water to beg for food. She has NEVER done this before. I figured it was just a coincident the first time, but now Foxy is repeating this action everyday when it is feeding time.
I am wondering if anyone else has a troublesome fish that has taught a bad behavior to their tank mates.

 

[btldreef]

Quote:
Originally Posted by kuja http:///forum/thread/385448/fish-teaching-bad-habits#post_3380347
Most lionfish have the bad habit of sticking their heads out of the water as a form of begging for food. If they have a very impatient lionfish it will squirt their owners with water in order to receive food faster. I have tried to stop Spiky from doing this bad behavior, but now he does it more often (probably just to prove who is boss ). Anyways Foxy (magnificent foxface) is now copying Spiky by sticking her head out of the water to beg for food. She has NEVER done this before. I figured it was just a coincident the first time, but now Foxy is repeating this action everyday when it is feeding time.
I am wondering if anyone else has a troublesome fish that has taught a bad behavior to their tank mates.
it's so cool (and frustrating) that Lionfish do this!
My Naso begs for food by chasing me up and down the tank (it runs the wall on one side of the living room) and nudges my hand when it's in the tank looking for food. She eats from my hand, so my hand is seen as a "food god". The Yellow Belly Hippo is now starting this behavior, but instead of nudging, she's nipping...

 

[1guydude]

LOL the biggest fish i have are a fire clown and a hawkfish....the clown is quite shy and darts up for food than back down to hiding. The hawk is a total opposite, he actually eats off the tweezers lol! I think its kool....how often do u feed these fish kuja? I feed mine in the mornings and late afternoon!

 

[meowzer]

LOL....I feed my tanks every morning....as soon as I get to the 225G, and lift the center lid...they start flapping at the top of the water.....one actually came out once...LOL...landed on the egg crate
You'd think I starve them

 

[jerth6932]

Fish are smart, they develop learned behaviors just like all other animals! It is fun for us to know that they "understand" our actions. Mine group in the middle when I open my sump Cause I feed through my returns so the food doesn't go down the over flow so quick.
How are you trying to train it? lol