Dietary self-selection in fish: basic bibliography

Under conditions of simultaneous access to food of unbalanced nutrient composition, fish learn to consume those diet components that provide their energetic and nutritional needs. In trophic ecology and ethology, this form of dietary behaviour is named dietary self-selection or macronutrient self-selection. In the bibliographic list given below, you will find the basic references allowing to learn the main aspects of this phenomenon. In fishing, for example, the right design of baits, lures and groundbaits is impossible without deep knowledge in this area. Carp boilies offered by CC Moore Basic References Almaida-Pagán P.F., Rubio V.C., Mediola P., De Costa J., Madrid J.A. 2006. Macronutrient selection through post-ingestive signals in sharpsnout seabream fed gelatine capsules and challenged with protein dilution. Physiology & Behavior 88, 550-558 Aranda A., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Zamora S., Madrid J.A. 2000. Self-design of fish diets by means of self-feeders: validation of procedures. Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry 56, 155-166. Aranda A., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Madrid J.A. 2001. Effect of short-term fasting on macronutrient self-selection in sea bass. Physiology & Behavior 73, 105-109 Geurden I., Cuvier A., Gondouin E., Olsen R.E., Ruohonen K., Kaushik S., Boujard T. 2005. Rainbow trout can discriminate between feeds with different oil sources. Physiology & Behavior 85, 107-114 Huntingford F., Jobling M., Kadri S. (Editors). 2012. Aquaculture and Behavior. Wiley-Blackwell, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, United Kingdom Moore B., Marsh K., Wallis I. 2005. Taught by animals: how understanding diet selection leads to better zoo diets. International Zoo Yearbook 39, 43-61 Rubio V.C., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Madrid J.A. 2003. Macronutrient selection through postingestive signals in sea bass fed on gelatine capsules. Physiology & Behavior 78, 795-803 Rubio V.C., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Madrid J.A. 2005. Fish macronutrient selection through post-ingestive signals: Effect of selective macronutrient deprivation. Physiology & Behavior 84, 651-657 Rubio V.C., Boluda Navarro D., Madrid J.A., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J. 2009. Macronutrient self-selection in Solea senegalensis fed macronutrient diets and challenged with dietary protein dilutions. Aquaculture 291, 95-100 Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Yamamoto T., Akiyama T., Madrid J.A., Tabata, M. 1998. Selection of macronutrients by goldfish operating self-feeders. Physiology and Behavior 65, 211–218 Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Yamamoto T., Akiyama T., Madrid J.A., Tabata M., 1999. Macronutrient self-selection through demand-feeders in rainbow trout. Physiology & Behavior 66, 45-51 Vivas M., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Garcia Garcia B., Madrid J.A. 2003. Macronutrient self-selection in European sea bass in response to dietary protein or fat restriction. Aquaculture Research 34, 271-280 Vivas M., Rubio V.C., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Mena C., Garcia Garcia B., Madrid J.A. 2006. Dietary self-selection in sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo) fed paired macronutrient feeds and challenged with protein dilution. Aquaculture 251, 430-437 Yamamoto T., Shima T., Furuita H., Shiraishi M., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Tabata M. 2001. Influence of decreasing water temperature and shortening of the light phase on macronutrient self-selection by rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and common carp Cyprinus carpio. Fisheries Science 67, 420-429 Yamamoto T., Shima T., Furuita H., Suzuki N. 2003. Effect of water temperature and short-term fasting on macronutrient self-selection by common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Aquaculture 220, 655-666

Chemosensory sensitivity of some salmonid and acipenserid fish to natural attractants

Family, species	Thresholds of chemosensory sensitivity: given in parts of standard exctract 1 gram food per l water
Acipenseridae stellate sturgeon, Acipenser stellatus Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baeri	bloodworm extracts 10-4 (Kasumyan & Kazhlaev, 1993)
Salmonidae sockeye, Oncorhynchus nerka	brine shrimp, zooplankton extracts 10-5 beef liver, beef heart extracts 10-3 — 10-2 (McBride et al., 1962)
Salmonidae Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, brook trout, Salmo trutta	Trichoptera larva extracts 10-3 (Marusov, 1975)

Salmo trutta, by Harald Seide

Basic References

Kasumyan A.O., Kazhlaev A.A. 1993. Formation of searching behavioral reaction and olfactory sensitivity to food chemical signals during ontogeny of sturgeons (Acipenseridae). Journal of Ichthyology 33, 51-65

Marusov E.A. 1975. The reaction of young salmonids to some natural chemical stimuli. Journal of Ichthyology 15, 375-377

McBride J.R., Idler D.R., Jonas R.E.E., Tomlinson N. 1962. Olfactory perception in juvenile salmon. I. Observations on response of juvenile sockeye to extracts of foods. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 19, 327-334

Chemosensory sensitivity of some cyprinid fish to natural attractants

Species	Thresholds of chemosensory sensitivity: given in parts of standard exctract 1 gram food per l water (1 gram live food per hour per l water, for exometabolites)
common carp, Cyprinus carpio	10-4 (10-1 g/h/l)
silver crucian, Carassius auratus gibelio	10-3
minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus	10-3 (10-1 g/h/l)
common gudgeon, Gobio gobio	10-3
zebrafish, Danio rerio	10-3
lacustrine bleak, Leucaspius delineatus	10-1

Extracts and exometabolites of bloodworms, Chironomus plumosus, are used in these experiments.



Common minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus

Basic References

Kasumyan A.O., Ponomarev V.Y. 1986a. Behaviour peculiarities of some cyprinid fish species under the influence of natural chemical feeding stimuli. Biological Sciences, reposed at 25.03.86 under #1948-B

Kasumyan A.O., Ponomarev V.Y. 1986b. Study of the behaviour of zebrafish Brachydanio rerio Hamilton-Buchanan under the influence of natural chemical food signals. Journal of Ichthyology 26, 665-673

Field observations on indirect clay-eating in cyprinid fish

Clay-eating as one of the forms of geophagy is well known and documented in many animals (for more data, see Dietary Clay Boilies. Natural product number one in the ethical angling world). Unfortunately, next to nothing is known about clay-eating in fish in the nature (in particular, Ms. Ulli Limpitlaw does not report such cases: personal communication).

Some our observations on indirect clay-eating in fish (in clayey localites of the Goryn river and other right affluents of the Pryp’yat river, Ukraine, beginning from the 1970s) are given below.

Among various clayey localities in the foregoing region, those localities that are colonized by the burrowing invertebrates, such as maylies Ephemeroptera (in particular, Ephemera vulgata), with the accompanying microfauna, are most attractive for fish. Localities of this type are easily detected on the above-water (dried) and underwater clayey or clayey-carbonate grounds dotted with the numerous burrows of mayfly larvae. Cyprinids (about 15 species, except limnophilic species), percids (such as perch, Perca fluviatilis, sander, Stizostedion luciopera, and Don ruffe, Gymnocephalus acerina) as well as juvenile pike, Esox lucius, wels, Silurus glanis, and burbot, Lota lota, constantly keep these places. Judging by the compostion of their intestines, larvae E. vulgata are the main component (up to 90-95 weight percent in benthivorous cyprinids) of their diets. Large benthivorous cyprinids, such as bream, Abramis brama, and others, can dig the clayey and (harder) clayey-carbonate grounds unaidedly: in our context, searching for the larvae, they can ingest the clay. Other fish explore actively and nibble the crumbling pieces of the clayey bank or feed in the windy weather, when the waves break up the clay ground (with the characteristic muddy trails) and wash the larvae.

Fresh chunks of the burrowing clay, placed purposely at the closely spaced sites of the sandy shallow (30-50 cm depth), attract juvenile cyprinids, like ever-present roach, Rutilus rutilus, and others, with an intensive nibbling.

Besides the general observations, interesting results have been obtained with the assistance of express pair comparisons of the olfactory preferences for the different clays. Of the two balls (4 cm diameter, equal color) made, one, of the fresh burrowing clay and, the other, of the same but old, sun-dried clay (collected at the shore) and placed at the sandy shallow at the 30 cm distance each from other fish have prefered the first (the total number of pair tests n = 12, fixing the first nibble, sign test, P < 0.05).

The olfactory attractiveness of balls made of the fresh burrowing clay must be determined, in the first turn, by the exometabolites of live E. vulgata larvae. At high density of larve in the clay (50-70 individuals per l liter clay, as in our cases), the concentration of larva exometabolites is more than sufficient to be detected by the cyprinids (threshold is 10^-1 g live larvae per hour per l liter water: Kasumyan & Ponomarev, 1986 a,b). The non-negligible olfactory attractiveness of balls made of the shore, "old” clay may be explained by the presence of residual and newly formed microfauna (microflora).

Balls made of the fresh burrowing clay is step-by-step digged out by fish. Perhaps, part of the clay saturated with the mayfly larva exometabolites is ingested.

Basic References

Kasumyan A.O., Ponomarev V.Y. 1986a. Behaviour peculiarities of some cyprinid fish species under the influence of natural chemical feeding stimuli. Biological Sciences, reposed at 25.03.86 under #1948-B

Kasumyan A.O., Ponomarev V.Y. 1986b. Study of the behaviour of zebrafish Brachydanio rerio Hamilton-Buchanan under the influence of natural chemical food signals. Journal of Ichthyology 26, 665-673

Microsmatic fish: Chinese perch

Find more information about microsmatic fish here:Olfactory behaviour of microsmatic fish, including Northern pike (Esox lucius)

Read also:

Liang X.F., Liu J.K., Huang B.Y. 1998. The role of sense organs in the feeding behaviour of Chinese perch. Journal of Fish Biology 52, 1058-1067

Dietary Clay Boilies. Natural product number one in the ethical angling world

Phenomenon of soil ingestion, or geophagy, attracts an attention of numerous researchers for years (Woywodt & Kiss, 2002). Geophagy is not exhibited everywhere, but it is widespread in many animals and human (for review, see Mahaney & Krishnamani, 2003; Limpitlaw, 2010).

Johns & Duquette (1991) suggest that the physiological significance of geophagy made it important in the evolution of human dietary behaviour.

More than 50 species of animals have been reported to ingest various types of clays, salt and other Earth materials, in particular at sites named "licks”. In general, this form of dietary behaviour allows an animal to provide its organism with the needed nutrients, solve gastrointestinal and intoxication problems, suppress some maladies and improve general vital indexes (Limpitlaw, 2010).

In particular, parrots are ones of the most studied soil-eaters (e.g., Gilardi et al., 1999; Brightsmith, 2004; Brightsmith et al., 2004, 2008).

Members of our group have started the first experiments with clay-eating in fishing in the end of 1980s, after lucky detectiing an open deposit of high quality white clay on an abrupt bank of the Dnipro river (localities in Ukraine). First of all, this clay was used to prepare fishing groundbaits (with an excellent attractive effect). In the subsequent years, four basic ways to use clay-eating in fishing (see below) were elaborated. Taking into account the current hazardous ecological situation in the most part of water bodies, we have decided to enter such technological products as the Dietary Clay Pellets & Dietary Clay Boilies into mass production.

In total, the following basic clayey products (of the white, green, yellow, orange and red colors) are elaborated:

1. Paste, or Plasticine

2. Polenta

3. Dietary Clay & Rice Pellets

4. Dietary Clay & Rice Boilies

In the latter two cases, the white processed rice (up to about 30 weight percent) has been used in the capacity of an extender and binder. This rice is lighter than the common rice meal and flakes. It quickly dissolves in the water. Yet, it is quickly digested in the intestines of fish. Recall also, rice products (without salt, sugar and spices) are widely and effectively used in the human diets.

To test dietary pellets and boilies, one week pre-baiting campaigns with the everyday morning and evening sessions were conducted in the field. For the first presentation in the 1st day, items enhanced with powder, liquid or spray attractants (one type within all sessions) were only used. In the 2nd, 3rd and 4th days, mixes of enhanced and non-enhanced items, taken in the percent ratio of 70:30, 50:50 and 30:70, were used. Finally, in the remaining days, non-enhanced pellets and boilies or even practically blank kaolin balls with small amount of binder were only offered.

According to our observations, to the end of the pre-baiting campaigns fish usually readily eat non-enhanced or blank clayey pellets (used for roach, Rutilus rutilus, and other relatively small fish) and boilies (used for carp, Cyprinus carpio), demonstrating in this way that they include these items in their natural, in water bodies with weak angling pressure, or semi-narural, in other cases, diets.

Generally, this form of dietary behaviour, named dietary self-selection or macronutrient self-selection, is determined by an individual experience of an animal and reflects the positive associations between some macronutrients and physiological state of this animal, which are established during its learning in the nature, aquaculture, zoo or laboratory (for review, see Moore et al., 2005; Huntingford et al., 2012). These macronutrients provide energy requirements, optimum protein, fat and carbohydrate levels, or, more specifically, vitamin, mineral and other requirements.

In respect of fish, the phenomenon of dietary self-selection has attracted an undivided attention of numerous researchers approximately from the second part of 1990s (e.g., Sánchez-Vázquez et al., 1999; Aranda et al., 2000, 2001; Yamamoto et al., 2001; Rubio et al., 2003; Vivas et al., 2003; Yamamoto et al., 2003). Of course, direct biochemical, trophological and biomedical investigations of clayey diets in fish will be useful to the further development of diet designing in aquaculture, fishing (baits, lures, groundbaits) and related areas.

Basic References

Aranda A., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Zamora S., Madrid J.A. 2000. Self-design of fish diets by means of self-feeders: validation of procedures. Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry 56, 155-166.

Aranda A., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Madrid J.A. 2001. Effect of short-term fasting on macronutrient self-selection in sea bass. Physiology & Behavior 73, 105-109

Brightsmith D. J. 2004. Effects of weather on parrot geophagy in Tambopata, Peru. Wilson Bulletin 116, 134-145

Brightsmith D. J., Aramburú R. 2004. Avian geophagy and soil characteristics in Southeastern Peru. Biotropica 36, 534-543

Brightsmith D. J., Taylor J., Phillips T.D. 2008. The roles of soil characteristics and toxin adsorption in avian geophagy. Biotropica 40, 766-774

Gilardi J.D., Duffey S.S., Munn C.A., Tell L.A. 1999. Biochemical functions of geophagy in parrots: Detoxification of dietary toxins and cytoprotective effects. Journal of Chemical Ecology 25, 897-922

Huntingford F., Jobling M., Kadri S. (Editors). 2012. Aquaculture and Behavior. Wiley-Blackwell, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, United Kingdom

Johns T., Duquette M. 1991. Detoxification and mineral supplementation as functions of geophagy. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 53, 448-456

Limpitlaw U.G. 2010. Ingestion of Earth materials for health by humans and animals. International Geology Review 52, 726-744

Mahaney W.C., Krishnamani R. 2003. Understanding geophagy in animals: standard procedures for sampling soils. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29, 1503-1523

Moore B., Marsh K., Wallis I. 2005. Taught by animals: how understanding diet selection leads to better zoo diets. International Zoo Yearbook 39, 43-61

Rubio V.C., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Madrid J.A. 2003. Macronutrient selection through postingestive signals in sea bass fed on gelatine capsules. Physiology & Behavior 78, 795-803

Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Yamamoto T., Akiyama T., Madrid J.A., Tabata M., 1999. Macronutrient self-selection through demand-feeders in rainbow trout. Physiology & Behavior 66, 45-51

Vivas M., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Garcia Garcia B., Madrid J.A. 2003. Macronutrient self-selection in European sea bass in response to dietary protein or fat restriction. Aquaculture Research 34, 271-280

Yamamoto T., Shima T., Furuita H., Shiraishi M., Sánchez-Vázquez F.J., Tabata M. 2001. Influence of decreasing water temperature and shortening of the light phase on macronutrient self-selection by rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and common carp Cyprinus carpio. Fisheries Science 67, 420-429

Yamamoto T., Shima T., Furuita H., Suzuki N. 2003. Effect of water temperature and short-term fasting on macronutrient self-selection by common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Aquaculture 220, 655-666

Woywodt A., Kiss A. 2002. Geophagia: the history of earth-eating. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 95, 143-146

How long the aquatic animals can remember the chemical search images?

In general, an acquired chemical serch image forms in the long-term memory of an animal during its learning (both in the nature or laboratory) and is used further as an etalon (template, specimen) to collate the receiving perceptual information.


In the aquatic animals, for example, the chemical search images can form in respect of odors of food, predators, school mates and other objects.

How long the aquatic animals can remember the chemical search images?

For example, American river crayfish, Orconectes virilis, trained during 2 weeks to eat freshly crushed zebra mussels, remember an odor of these molluscs without its refreshment within at least 20 days, but forget it after 40 days (Hazlett 1994). According to Brown and Smith’s (1994) laboratory experiments, fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, lived in the nature in relatively permanent shoals of familiar mates but kept separately, remember an odor of former mates for over 2 months.

Basic References

Brown G.E., Smith R.J.F. 1994. Fathead minnows use chemical cues to discriminate shoalmates from unfamiliar conspecifics. Journal of Chemical Ecology 20, 3051-3061
Hazlett B.A. 1994. Crayfish feeding responses to zebra mussels depend on microor-ganisms and learning. Journal of Chemical Ecology 20, 2623-2630

Formation of the chemical search images in laboratory

In 1986, Kasymyan & Ponomarev have published the results of their behavioural experiments with several tens of zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio, divided into two training groups. In training Group 1, fish were fed (from birth to 3 month age) planktonic Cladocera and bloodworms (Chironomus plumosus), in Group 2  Cladocera and sludge worms (Tubifex tubifex).

Then fish were moved into an experimental aquarium, where they had the possibility to select one of two sections: with water extract of bloodworms and, respectively, with water extract of sludge worms (under concentration of these extracts 10^-2 – 10^-3 g/l). According to Kasumyan & Ponomarev (1986), fish of the first group preferred (displaying search feeding behaviour) an aquarium section with the Chironomus plumosus odor, and vise versa — fish of the second group preferred another section, with the Tubifex tubifex odor.

In other words, training fish preferred the familiar feeding odors.

In general and applied ethology, this phenomenon is considered in the terms of an acquired search image. An acquired search image forms in the long-term memory of an animal during its learning (both in the nature or laboratory) and is used further as an etalon (template, specimen) to collate the receiving perceptual information. In our case, an acquired chemical search image forms in respect of an odor of some object.

How chemical search images form in other fish and crustaceans,  study the basic references given below.

Basic References

Atema J., Holland K., Ikehara W. 1980. Olfactory responses of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) to prey odors: chemical search image. Journal of Chemical Ecology 6, 457-465

Brown G.E., Smith R.J.F. 1994. Fathead minnows use chemical cues to discriminate shoalmates from unfamiliar conspecifics. Journal of Chemical Ecology 20, 3051-3061

Connaughton V.P., Epifanio C.E. 1993. The influence of previous experience on the feeding habits of larval weakfish (Cynoscion regalis). Marine Ecology Progress Series 101, 237-241

Derby C.D., Atema J. 1981. Selective improvement in responses to prey odors by the lobster, Homarus  americanus, following feeding experience. Journal of Chemical Ecology 7, 1073-1078

Hazlett B.A. 1994. Crayfish feeding responses to zebra mussels depend on microorganisms and learning. Journal of Chemical Ecology 20, 2623-2630

Hsiao S.C., Tester A. L.1955. Reaction of tuna to stimuli, 1952-1953. Part II. Response of tuna to visual and visual-chemical stimuli. United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report: Fisheries 130, 63-76

Kasumyan A.O., Ponomarev V.Y. 1986. Study of the behaviour of zebrafish Brachydanio rerio Hamilton-Buchanan under the influence of natural chemical food signals. Journal of Ichthyology 26, 665-673

McBride J.R., Idler D.R., Jonas R.E.E., Tomlinson N. 1962. Olfactory perception in juvenile salmon. I. Observations on response of juvenile sockeye to extracts of foods. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 19, 327-334

Ristvey A., Rebach S. 1999. Enhancement of the response of rock crabs, Cancer irroratus, to prey odors following feeding experiments. Biological Bulletin 197, 361-367

Thacker R.W. 1996. Food choices of land hermit crabs (Coenobita compressus H. Milne Edwards) depend on past experience. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 199, 179-191.

Tester A. L., van Weel P.B., Naughton J.J. 1955. Reaction of tuna to stimuli, 1952-1953. Part I. Response of tuna to chemical stimuli. United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, Special Scientific Report: Fisheries 130, 1-62

Uiblein F. 1993. Expectancy controlled sampling decisions in Vimba elongata. Environmental Biology of Fish 33, 311-316

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 3 million members and supporters.

PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in the clothing trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry.

In addition, PETA works actively on many other issues, including the cruel killing of beavers, birds, and other "pests" as well as cruelty to the domesticated animals. 

Search image formation: food selection in common carp

In 1997, Ivlev has published the results of his laboratory feeding experiments with several tens of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, divided into four training groups. In training Group 1, fish were fed only chironomidae larvae (bloodworms), in Group 2  sideswimmers, in Group 3  water louses, and in Group 4  freshwater molluscs, respectively.

After 10 days of training, fish of each group were moved on mixed, four-component diet contained the foregoing food items in equal parts. Interestingly, in this mixed diet fish selected predominantly familiar foods, remembered by them in the 10-day training period (see Table).

Table. Indexes of food electivity in common carp trained before to eat one species of food (Ivlev, 1977)

Food	Group 1 index of electivity	Group 2 index of electivity	Group 3 index of electivity	Group 4 index of electivity
Bloodworms, Chironomus plumosus	+ 0.37	+ 0.19	+ 0.10	+ 0.12
Sideswimmers, Corophium chelicorne	- 0.13	+ 0.28	- 0.19	- 0.21
Water louses, Asellus aquaticus	- 0.15	- 0.17	+ 0.28	- 0.20
Freshwater molluscs, Limnaea ovata	- 0.54	- 0.56	- 0.51	+ 0.20

In trophic ecology, this phenomenon is named an acquired food electivity (acquired feeding electivity).

Generally, an index of food electivity, denoted by letter E, can range from -1 (absolute rejection) to +1 (absolute preference). E=0 means that some food is not rejected and is not preferred (that is this food is indifferent on electivity for an eater).

In general and applied ethology, the same phenomenon is considered in the terms of search image. An acquired serch image forms in the long-term memory of an animal during its learning (both in the nature or laboratory) and is used further as an etalon (template, specimen) to collate the receiving perceptual information. Without constant verification, an acquired serch image is forgotten within some time period.

In our context, search images can form in respect of food or live prey, their colors, odors and other stimuli.

In common carp (Ivlev, 1977), approximately 1.5 week of training is needed to form the relatively stable search images (with indexes of food electivity more than +0.20, see Table). Fish can switch from one search image to another, but after the corresponding training (learning). To form the more stable search images (with indexes of food electivity no less than +0.80), approximately 1 month of training is needed (Ivlev, 1977).

Basic References

Ivlev V.S. 1977. An experimental ecology of fish feeding. Naukova Dumka, Kyiv

Meet. An ethological contaminator: Blue Fox

The world known Blue Fox fishing tackle company, one of the members of the Rapala Group, offers an extended series of fishing attractants under the trade mark Dr. Juce Scents.



Unfortunately, we do not know:

• real substances that are included in these attractants, concentrations of active substances
• behavioural responses of fish induced by these attractants
• their indirect effects on other aquatic animals
• their real effectiveness confirmed by the statistical data, free and public
• general conditions of destruction of these attractants in the water environment

This example shows that all we are facing the urgent need to create the contemporary system to certify fishing attractants and silimilar products. This system must provide answers on the above questions. In the absence of this system, we will have bottled products of questionable content like Blue Fox Dr. Juice and silimilars.

Please ask Dr. Gregory Bambenek (Dr. Juice), the author of these attractants, to answer the forgoing questions!

Transgenic fish allow...

Blue Fox & Rapala Group: stop fake or confirm your fairness

Among various Blue Fox’s Dr. Juice pheromone attractants, the nature and the effectiveness of the Dr. Juice Northern & Musky attractant, offered for Northern pike, Esox lucius, amd musky, E. masquinongy, are unclear.

In accordance with data received in the laboratory and field scientific experiments, pike (and musky) do not respond to conspecific odors and feeding substances like fish blood, tissue extracts or worm juice.

On the other hand, pike respond to (and are attracted by) the conspecific sexual pheromones as well as on the so called alarm pheromones, which are contained in the skin of cyprinid fish and released in the water chiefly after its damage (for example, by pike teeth).

For more information, see Olfactory behaviour of microsmatic fish, including Northern pike (Esox lucius)

It this context, the Fishermen Advocates group offers Blue Fox, the member of the Rapala Group, to publish in the Internet statistical data confirmed the effectiveness of Dr. Juice Northern & Musky attractant within, say, 1-2 months after this claim. To the point, what Dr. Gregory Bambenek, the author of the attractant, thinks about? In the absence of argued data after expiration of that term, lawers of the Fishermen Advocates group will have the right to include the Dr. Juice Northern & Musky attractant in the category of forgeries with the appropriate legal effects.

Environmental Society Versus Angling Contamination

Environmental Society Versus Angling Contamination

is the newest global movement established by

the Fishermen Advocates group.

Our  main objectives are the following:

preventing the water pollution, known as an eutrophication,

by fishing groundbaits due to their

incorrect compositions, excessive use or others,

and preventing the water pollution,

known as an ethological pollution, by behaviour active

substanses, which are able to disturb the

natural behaviour of fish and other aquatic animals

Discovering False Advertising

Discovering False Advertising

is our version of the global movements

against false advertising.

Our main objective,

as the Fishermen Advocates group, is

firstly, to discover false advertisings in all

areas of the fishing industries.

Secondly, to stop these cases

through public pressure on the forgers and,

if necessary, their legal prosecution

Can you understand how Blue Fox Dr. Juice fishing pheromone attractants work? An example of false advertising

The world known Blue Fox fishing tackle company, one of the members of the Rapala Group, offers an extended series of fishing attractants under the trade mark Dr. Juce Scents.

The company writes: Pro anglers and those "in the know” trust "The Juice” to attract and catch more fish. Using the fish’s powerful sense of smell, Dr. Juice triggers the attack pheromones found in all species, to turn otherwise docile fish into aggressors. And entitles this: Proven for years to help anglers boat more fish.

For ethologists and educated anglers, it is very difficult to understand this description.

In addition, we do not think that "Orient and Mayan jungles" with their ancient cultures, visited by Dr. Juice (alias Dr. Gregory Bambenek), the author of the foregoing attractants and the owner of the foreging trade mark, are right places to search... fish pheromones (see Blue Fox paper catalogs).

Study, for example, how fish pheromones can be really used to control fish behavioural responses:

Burnard D., Gozlan R.E., Griffiths S.W. 2008. The role of pheromones in freshwater fishes. Journal of Fish Biology 73, 1-16

Sorensen P.W., Stacy N.E. 2004. Brief review of fish pheromones and discussion of their possible uses in the control of non-indigenous teleost fishes. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 38, 399–417

Verheggen F.J., Haubruge E., Mescher M.C. 2010. Alarm pheromones  chemical signaling in response to danger. Vitamins and Hormones 83, 216-239