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Zoology Science Fair Project

Aquarium Fish and Feeding Schedules

Easy
Aquarium Fish and Feeding Schedules | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Can a fish learn when feeding time is coming? Many animals follow patterns in their daily behavior. Birds migrate at set times. People feel hungry at regular hours. Fish may do the same. You feed your aquarium fish at the same time each day for about a week. Then you watch where the fish positions itself in the tank right before feeding time. After a few more days you switch to a new feeding time. You track how long the fish takes to adjust to the new schedule.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that aquarium fish can anticipate feeding time and their biological clock can be altered.

Method & Materials

You will create a feeding schedule, observe the fish's location at feeding time, and change the feeding time to observe the fish's behavior.
You will need aquarium fish, an aquarium, fish food, and a timer.

Results

The results of this experiment showed that the fish were able to adjust to the new feeding time after a few days. An interesting observation was that the fish seemed to anticipate the new feeding time before it was due.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it explores the biological clock of aquarium fish and how it can be altered.

Also Consider

Variations of this experiment could include observing the fish's behavior when the feeding time is changed multiple times or observing the fish's behavior when the food type is changed.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related videos

These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
Does your pet fish or other pets show anticipation for their scheduled feeding time, like this person's fish? What affects the fish's ability to tell time?
Discover recent research on a tide-dependent clock, which is different from the daylight-dependent circadian rhythm present in plants, fungi, bacteria, and animals.
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