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Box B12

Species‐specific Considerations when Planning
and Implementing Training with Aquatics
Heather Williams

Training has been happening with different 2017). There is still a lot of catching up to do
taxa in zoos, and some aquariums, for many and the training techniques used in aquari-
years. Although, in general terms, aquariums ums mostly focus on the use of primary rein-
are lagging behind zoos in the adoption of forcement alone, for the time being; but we’re
training and behavioural management. Why? getting there!
The widely held false perception of goldfish The biggest obstacle in terms of setting up a
having only a three‐second memory may have training programme is probably pretty obvi-
something to do with it. However, Gee et al. ous to most readers – time!!! Although, in the
(1994) showed goldfish can learn to push a long run this can be viewed as an investment,
lever for food, and are able to anticipate a which will pay dividends in the future. It is
feeding window as small as 1 hour in 24. also important to think about what is needed
There is also the view of fish being less intel- and whether it is worth spending the time
ligent than mammals, which, may be true in and effort for the desired outcome.
some circumstances, however many species In general terms, training is training and
are certainly capable of a spectrum of cogni- the basic premise is the same regardless of
tive abilities (see Box B13) and can be trained the species involved. In practise, however,
complicated behaviours. These include things can change drastically depending
cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) swim- upon the cognitive ability of the species
ming with a camera mounted on a hoop over involved, and when using food as a primary
their head (Phoenix Zoo), to various species, reinforcer, their appetite levels. Aquariums
trained to enter boxes or slings for weighing, can present a particular challenge with
or movements of zebra sharks (Stegastoma regards to training as it is relatively rare to
fasciatum) allowing voluntary blood draws find a single species exhibit. Accessing the
(Aquarium of the Pacific). The good news is area can be fraught with difficulty as not
that more and more aquarists are learning the every aquarist is lucky enough to be able to
basics of animal learning theory, how to apply access their tank from all angles. However,
it to train behaviours and are getting involved. the most obvious barrier is the water. In
In the last few years, there has been a massive order to have good access to our animals, we
increase in the amount of training carried out either need to go to them (with the added
within aquariums, with a heavy focus on elas- complication of extra equipment, whether
mobranchs. In 1993, 34.1% of surveyed that is as simple as rubber boots, or as com-
aquaria were carrying out some form of train- plicated as full diving equipment), or we need
ing; increasing to 88.8% in 2013 (Janssen et al. them to come to us at the surface of the water.

Zoo Animal Learning and Training, First Edition. Edited by Vicky A. Melfi, Nicole R. Dorey, and Samantha J. Ward.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Published 2020 by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.