The environment of the fighting fish Betta splendens Regan / Die Umwelt des Kampffisches (Betta splendens Regan)
Zeitschrift fur Vergleichende Physiologie, (1932)Abstract
Movements of the water which stimulate lateral-line receptors on the head serve as "warning stimuli" to the fighting fish, and subsequent visual stimuli (e.g. size and movement of objects) determine whether food-taking, "fighting," or some other response is to be given. Vision is the important type of reception in controlling the fighting response, since the fish were made to fight through glass, or to respond to models of various kinds. In the "fighting response" there are three phases: (1) The approach, accompanied by coloration changes (e.g. general darkening, appearance of longitudinal striping), drooping of fins and raising of gillcovers; (2) the close contact, in which the fish may swim parallel to the object; and (3) the snapping reaction. Gradual decreases in the distinctiveness of body coloration and striping of pasteboard models decreased the incidence of recognizable fighting responses to such objects. Flight occurs when the object is close to twice the size of the Betta itself. The fighting response may be given to a portion of Betta body (the anterior third of the body, with raised gill-covers, was found most effective), but an elongated plastelin model was even more effective. The first two phases of the response may be elicited by tadpoles and plaice, but the second phase does not lead to the third phase unless the object moves much as would a Betta. Experiments (e.g. substitution of a female for the second male) show that the manner in which the partner moves following the second phase of encounter is responsible for the appearance of sex play instead of the biting phase of fighting. A description of sex behavior is given, as well as various ecological and physiological data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved)