Threat display in Betta splendens: Effects of water condition and type of agonistic stimulation
Animal Behaviour, 26 (Part 3):
738--745 (August 1978)DOI: 10.1016/0003-3472(78)90140-9
Abstract
Threat display in male Siamese fighting fish was studied with respect to two types of water condition: water in which a conspecific had previously performed threat display and water in which conspecifics had been wounded during a pair encounter. No effects were found for either type of water condition when compared with control groups studied in normal water. Differences were noted, however, between the three types of agonistic stimulation used to release threat display: mirror presentation produced a larger amount of display than a conspecific placed behind a glass partition, which in turn elicited more threat than an opponent in an actual fight. Air gulping was correlated with the various threat components measured and appears to be an integral part of agonistic behaviour in this species.