Cleaning Symbiosis Provides a Positive Reinforcer for Fish

Abstract

Chaetodon auriga, a conun7won marine fish in Hawaii, can be conditioned by presentation of a moving model of a cleaner fish as a positive reinforcement on an instrumental schedule. Reinforcement is probably through tactile stimulation and might help to shape the response of fish to cleaners. Tactile stimulilation night serve as a valuable reinforcer in studies of fish learning.