Food selection in cod (Gadus morhua): reactions to colour and smell. In: Flødevigen rapportserie no 1, 1990

Abstract

Cod were offered food and food imitations with various colours and smells. When offered crabs with natural colour and with the carapace painted in red, yellow or green, they showed no significant preference. Neither did they react differently to pieces of shnmps with natural colours or pieces coloured red or green. In a series of lures, those giving the best contrast to the water surface were usually selected first. When food and artificial imitations were offered simultaneously, the food was normally taken first. Cod reacted similarly to pieces of shrimps soaked in alcohol and to natural shrimps. They also had the same response when offered shrimps and a paste made of fish and shrimps simultaneously. When offered a paste made of crabs and one made of mackerel. they preferred the one made of crabs.