"Wayne Sallee" wrote in message ...
The idea that "fish don't think, but only react with
instinct" is one example of what I am talking about.

There are two kinds of an instinct, Wayne...
One - they are borned with, and the second one they can learn.
The second one is also called Pavlov instinct in the appreciation
of the work this scientists has done for the understanding animal behaviour.

Fish reaction to food is the first kind: they do not have to learn to eat.
Fish reacting to the fridge opening or seeing a person next to the tank
is the second kind - the same as the one Pavlov dogs developed an
salivation reflex for the sound of the bell. Do more reading here
http://www.es.flinders.edu.au/~matto...lecture30.html
If you do a search on google with a keyword Pavlov and dog you
will find more interesting facts you could match with your fish...