Standardization of position and stability of display measures in Siamese fighting fish ( Betta splendens )
Behavioral Biology, 16 (2):
175--184 (February 1976)Abstract
Attempted to demonstrate the stability of 2 dependent measures of aggressive display in 18 male Siamese fighting fish by using a procedural technique in which position respective to the eliciting stimulus was standardized. This was accomplished by placing each S within a fixed restraining cage mounted directly against a 2-way mirror-image device. Ss were then exposed to mirror-image durations (3 trials/day) of either 0, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 sec for 5 consecutive days. The dependent measures were probability of frontal display and latency to display following the onset of mirror image. No significant variation was found across trials or days for each dependent measure. However, it was observed that as mirror-image duration increased, the number of elicited displays also increased, whereas the latency to display correspondingly decreased. Potential research uses of the standardization technique are discussed.