Cockroach training

Re: Cockroach training

Claire Cameron — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:08:19 GMT

[quote user="Louisesadieandshads"]

Thanks. Yeah, apparently cockroaches are really thick in the morning and better at learning in the afternoon. I have put in for an afternoon workshop - suits me too as I am not really a morning person either. I am going to do similar stuff to what I do with chickens (i.e. I am going to put them in mazes). I am investigating sensory perception, phermones, etc at the moment before deciding on the exact areas to investigate but some of it will be down to the students themselves as they will be involved in the exact design. I'll probably get them measuring:

1. Choices

2. Running speed

Maybe I'll compare learning ability of males/females or ones from an enriched/unenriched environment but I am gathering as much info as I can find at the moment about their learning abilities.

This is the blurb that I have submitted to the programme organisers. As you can see, its a bit broad at the moment but that was what they wanted. Lots of people have submitted workshops so I might not even get picked as it depends on what interest is shown by the students. It's a widening participation type programme designed to get students from 'non traditional' backgrounds to think about higher education. As somebody that fitted that bill its something close to my heart!

Ain’t misbehavin’

Cockroaches are fascinating creatures but can they learn? This workshop will ask exactly that. Using mazes, students will attempt to train cockroaches and in doing so will experience life working as an animal behavioural scientist. Good animal welfare is about animals being healthy and having what they want. How do we know what animals want? We have to ask them!

Students will learn about animal behavioural science, what it is, why it is important and will be involved in designing, carrying out, and analysing an experiment to find out what cockroaches like.

[/quote]

Sounds brilliant, Please keep me posted on this would love to hear about the outcome!! xxx

Re: Cockroach training

Louise B — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:38:07 GMT

Hi, thanks Judy! I don't have any plans to but if it goes well 'who knows'. Maybe BVNA will ask me to do a workshop for VNs

Re: Cockroach training

Judy Blythe — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:33:03 GMT

That sounds briliant Louise- I would definitely come. Do you do workshops for much older people????

Re: Cockroach training

Louise B — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:38:22 GMT

1. Choices

2. Running speed

Maybe I'll compare learning ability of males/females or ones from an enriched/unenriched environment but I am gathering as much info as I can find at the moment about their learning abilities.

Ain’t misbehavin’

Students will learn about animal behavioural science, what it is, why it is important and will be involved in designing, carrying out, and analysing an experiment to find out what cockroaches like.

Re: Cockroach training

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:23:48 GMT

You could use a choice chamber to observe the behaviour differences

Re: Cockroach training

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:13:34 GMT

Hi Louise, as you know I am helping Dina with her biology today, and I came across something that might be of interest for your experiment.

Cockroaches-show peak activity in the dark(or at night) where they eat more, due to being unobserved by predators.

Hope this helps

Re: Cockroach training

Louise B — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:13:30 GMT

That's brill! Thanks for your help.

Re: Cockroach training

Claire Cameron — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:09:01 GMT

[quote user="Louisesadieandshads"]

Thanks. When you had a bit of banana in your hand how long would they spend feeding before they became bored/satiated/didn't want to eat anymore?

[/quote]

I'd say probably about 5-10minutes, xx

Re: Cockroach training

Louise B — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:49:53 GMT

LOL. I think it'lll be good. I am going to get sixth-formers carrying out preference tests on roaches.

Re: Cockroach training

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:44:30 GMT

Only Louise would decide on roaches hehehe just keep them away from those chickens they will last all of a peck and a gulp!.

Re: Cockroach training

Louise B — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:41:21 GMT

Thanks. When you had a bit of banana in your hand how long would they spend feeding before they became bored/satiated/didn't want to eat anymore?

Re: Cockroach training

Claire Cameron — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:33:13 GMT

ate hardly anything really, a slice of banana would last a day or two, and as it was older and softer they liked it more lol typical cockroach

Re: Cockroach training

Louise B — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:32:10 GMT

Thanks for the info. How much did they eat? e.g. if you cut a slice of banana how much would they eat in one go while in your hand?

Re: Cockroach training

Fleabee99 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:20:37 GMT

aww they sound lovely

Re: Cockroach training

Claire Cameron — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:32:06 GMT

They were relatively active during the day, mainly towards afternoon, early evening they became more active, used to handle them quite a lot used to just sit on my hands and run about. LOVED banana x

Re: Cockroach training

Fleabee99 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:16:52 GMT

terrified of cockroaches!!!!! remember being naughty at a zoo once and taking a flash picture of a cage in the dark exhibit you should of seen me jump when the picture showed up on my camera 2 seconds later there were hundreds!!! could say it served me right though lol

what are they like im curious? being a rat lover im used to loving my vermin

Re: Cockroach training

Louise B — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:04:52 GMT

How cool. How active were they during the day? How easy were they to handle?

Re: Cockroach training

Claire Cameron — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:14:13 GMT

I used to own two hissing cockroaches

Get a lot of stick for owning up to that normally