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About Ron Coleman
Expertise
I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience
I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Organizations belong to
American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc
Publications
Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Education/Credentials
PhD (Toronto, 1993) MSc (Simon Fraser, 1986) BSc (British Columbia, 1983)
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Fish > Fish > training my baby oscars
Expert: Ron Coleman
Date: 5/6/2008
Subject: training my baby oscars
Question
QUESTION: i have jus got a tank and stand all set up and ready to house two oscars. i am in the process of waiting for my tank to settle before buying them. i read on the internet that you could teach oscars to do tricks and stroke them is this in anyway cruel to the fish if it is not. how would i go about it?
ANSWER: Hi John,
No this is not cruel to the oscars, in fact, you will find that oscars very much enjoy interacting with people. You train them as you would train any animal, i.e., with food. For example, at first you drop the food in at one corner of the tank. After doing that for several days (or weeks), leave your hand closer after letting the food go. Then leave it closer. Over time, they will eat the food out of your hand. Then you can (gently) touch them. It just takes time and patience.
Whenever touching a fish, always be sure that your fingers are wet. Dry fingers can pull the mucous off the fish and that CAN hurt them.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: hi ron i hve another question for you since i got my oscars they wont eat there pellet food they only eat bloodworm the place i got them from said to starve them into eating the pellet is this the right thing to do. also there albino tiger oscars and on there bottom fins there is a black tint appearing should there finns be turning black?
Answer
Hi John,
They are a bit like people: it is hard to get them to their veggies if you give them lots of candy. So, if you want them to eat the pellets, you can't give them a bunch of bloodworms.
A little bit of black on the bottom fins may indicate a little abrasion but that is perfectly normal.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
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