Reactions of the goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus L.) to quantified mechanical and thermal stimuli

Goldfish can differentiate between mechanical and thermal stimuli components in combined stimulations. Reactions to heated thermode (deltaT = + 3 degrees C) differ from those to isotherm thermode by up to 30%. Additional pretension (0.5 p) increases the reaction more than double; at simultaneously varied temperature (deltaT = + 3 degrees C and + 5 degrees C), there is a further increase in reaction of 25% and 35%. The significance for the organism of the two stimuli components is discussed.