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Editor’s note: Reprint from The Fish File Volume 7 issue 7; thank you to Carol Sindelar from the Eastern Iowa Pond Society for submitting this article. Author unknown.
Taming your fish. I'm convinced that almost any fish can be tamed if you follow this method. Remember, for months my fish would dive to the bottom of the pond whenever anyone approached. These days they queue up to take food from my hand.
Stage 1 - let them know food is provided only at certain times. Feed them at the same time of the day and give them a clear signal that grub is on its way by tapping quickly on the edge of the pond- it's the vibration that they'll sense. Remember, fish do know the time of day - at 7:00 pm they start to wait to wait for me. Use floating food sa that they have to come to the surface. If you can, feed them mid-day as they will probably want to eat more.
Stage 2 - Let them see you . Lie down next to the pond and drop the food in the same place. For weeks they may just wait for you to go before they come up but stick at it.
Stage 3 - let them see your hand distributing food underwater. With their favorite food (blood worms) and when they are at their hungriest, dispense the food with your hand under water. Distribute the food sparingly and, on alternate days, only in a small area around your hand - the fish will learn that they must be brave if they are to get some food. It's essential you do not make any sudden moves.
Eventually, one fish will be brave enough to take food near, or from your hand. IT may even do this accidentally - without knowing your hand is close by; but as soon as one does it they'll all do it. You'll probably find that the biggest fish will be the quickest to respond. It took me 2 and a half months to completely tame tem (1 year for the Blue Orfes!) but now they don't mind being handled at all.
Start to train them in Spring - when they're at their hungriest. When feeding, place your hand next to weeds - this makes the fish feel more confident when they approach your hand. The Blue Orfes responded well only when I very slowly swayed my hand from side to side - they didn't trust a completely still hand!