Teaching Your Goldfish to do Tricks

R2 Fish School Complete Fish Training Kit

Amazon Price: $27.95 (as of 12/18/2009)

agree with the other reviews that this kit is complete and was put together with real some real indepth thought behind it. The DVD is so easy to follow and the pieces almost self explainatory in the way they snap together.
This kit is super for parents just wanting to interact with their children. The kit would be wonderful also for teachers wanting an in classroom project. A Shrine Hospital treating kids or a day care could easily have a mascot for the children and teach the fish for fun as well as entertainment.
Where I see the real value in the R2 Fish School trainig kit is teaching adults though. I know many adults would think they are beyond a fish training kit .In my years of teaching and consulting on behavioral modification in the Zoo world I could have definately used this kit to expand peoples understanding of operant conditioning and learning theory. There seems to be a new wave of people involved in what is known as clicker training . There are some trainers even holding seminars to share these techniques. One noted expert has newcomers to the field of operant conditioniong train chickens so the students can learn the theory and application hands on in a class room. The fish could replace the chicken and is easier to house, clean and care for in many enviorments than are chickens.I know you can get more reinforcements into a chicken but each of these animals has its individual benifits to training it. Training this little fish demonstrates most of all that animals can and wil learn with out physical coercion. No bridle or bit, no choke chain or leash . Just you your intelect and the use of positive reinforcements to accomplish a wide range behaviors you never thought a fish could do.
If you want a fun productive, interactive, and worthwhile training tool this is it.It is not just for kids.
You clicker trainers out their interested in this R2 fish kit may take note. This kit does not have a clicker included .Those of you who would want to use this to teach adults could use a slight single tap on the side of the glass when pressenting a food reinforcement . This taping noise association quickly would replace the clicker as a secondary reinforcer or bridging stimulus.
Do not be surprised if you see this in the Sea World gift shops soon.