How Do Fish Know That Flake Or Pellets Are Food?

[Goggy]

I went to the store and bought a tank, cycled it and got 2 angelfish i fed it flakes and it accepted it THEN it hit me: how do fish know that pellets and flakes are food? they dont look like fish's natural food invertabrates, plants vice versa. So how? how do fish know that flake and pellets are food i am just curious.
Thanks!

 

[LyraGuppi]

Surface feeders like bettas or guppys will test anything that falls to the surface, even your finger. The same with other feeders. I guess they just learn that flakes are food.

 

[Goggy]

what about bottom feeders

 

[Lillefishy]

I'd say it was scent, the minute pellets hit the bottom the corys know there's food & go looking for it.

 

[stanleo]

In nature, fish are on a constant search for food. They investigate anything that floats around them (if that's the way they feed) with their mouths and what is food gets swallowed, what is not gets spit back out. Bottom dwellers are the same only the investigate what is on or in the substrate. Fish also learn when we open the lid they know that food is about to rain down on them. Plus fish food is made with scents that attract the fish to it. 

 

[SeanTrollope]

simple! it tasts good

 

[TallTree01]

In the beginning I feel fish need to sniff the food out or see other fish eating it. Then they will gradually recognize the food as stomach filler.

 

[Goggy]

thanks for the info guys

thats why my bumblebee catfish grabed my pleco's algae wafer and spit it out