Age and Vision as Factors in Bottom Colour Selection by Rainbow Trout, Salmo gairdneri

Rainbow trout exposed in a circular tank to a choice of black or white bottom at a light intensity of 10−2 lux were randomly distributed until the age of 14 months at which time a significant preference for black began and became more pronounced with increasing age.Groups of fish (18–24 months of age) with normal eyes, without eye lenses, and lacking eyes, were held in total darkness and at 10−2, 10, and 200 lux. In total darkness all groups were randomly distributed and quiescent. Fish without eye lenses selected black at all visible light intensities and acted similarly to normal fish at 10−2 lux. Fish lacking eyes were randomly distributed and more-or-less inactive at all intensities.The eye is essential for bottom colour discrimination and behavioural patterns occurring in normal trout exposed to different light intensities.