Biochemical costs of a three day long cohabitation in dominant and submissive maleBetta splendens

Haller, József

doi:10.1002/1098-2337(1994)20:5<369::aid-ab2480200504>3.0.co;2-f

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…They concluded that attacks are energetically more expensive to perform and not economically advantageous in larger aquaria where there is an increased probability of escape. Haller and Wittenberger ( 1988 ) and Haller ( 1994 ) kept multiple male Bettas together for up to seven days. They observed the formation of stable dominance hierarchies and quantified differences in metabolic costs between dominant and subordinate individuals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

Oldfield,

Murphy

2024

Anim. welf.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The public has expressed growing concern for the well-being of fishes, including popular pet species such as the Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). In captivity, male Bettas behave aggressively, often causing injuries and death if housed together. As a result, they are typically isolated in small fishbowls, which has been widely criticised as cruel. To investigate the impact of keeping Bettas in these conditions, we recorded the behaviour of individual males in containers of different sizes that were either bare or enriched with gravel, large rocks, and live plants. When male Bettas were housed individually in small bowls (0.5 L) they spent less time swimming than they did when they were kept in larger aquaria (10, 38, and 208 L). Fish that were kept in enriched containers exhibited more instances of swimming. To determine if two male Bettas housed together might coexist peacefully if given enough space and cover from plants and large rocks, we quantified the behaviour of pairs of male Bettas in bare or enriched aquaria of different sizes (10, 38, 208, 378 L). Fish performed fewer approaches and aggressive displays, but not attacks, and more bouts of foraging, when in larger aquaria. This study shows that the small fishbowls typically used in pet stores suppress swimming behaviour in male Bettas and at least a 10-L aquarium is required to ensure full expression of swimming behaviour. Furthermore, even the use of very large aquaria cannot guarantee peaceful cohabitation between two males.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

Oldfield,

Murphy

2024

Anim. welf.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Aggression and energy metabolism seem to be in a tight relationship: i) animals prepare themselves metabolically for fighting Koolhaas and van Oorthmerssen, 1988;Wilson and Gatten, 19891;ii) there is a substantial energy mobilization during the fight [Christiansen et al, 1991;Volpato and Fernandes, 1994;Alvarenga and Volpato, 1995;Haller, 1992Haller, , 1994Fernandez et al, 19941;and iii) the metabolic consequences of the fight and the optimal use of energy resources may be of crucial importance regarding the survival of animals [Marden and Waage, 1990;Marler and Moore, 19911. This relationship is not devoid of practical implications. Aggression is an important factor in the losses suffered in animal husbandry [Dantzer and Mormede, 1979;Femandez et al, 19941.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral tactics control the energy costs of aggression: The example of Macropodus opercularis

et al. 1996

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Previous experiments on Betta splendens have shown that energy expenditures related to aggression are under social control. The present paper examines the biochemical energetics of social cohabitation in groups of Macropodus opercularis. The species is closely related to Betta splendens, however, dominants use somewhat different behavioral tactics against intruders. In contrast to Bettas, submissive Macropoduses are not harassed by dominants, but are confined to the bottom of the tank. This results in a reduced rate of oxygen consumption in defeated animals (Anabantid fish mainly use atmospheric oxygen). The only metabolic change, compared to isolated controls, is a reduction in hepatic glycogen content. Submissive animals have shifted carbohydrate metabolism towards anaerobic glycolysis. Substantial reductions in muscle proteins, lipids, and glycogen occurred in submissive Betta splendens. Thus, the sharp difference in behavioral strategy results in a sharp difference in the energetic consequences of aggression. A theory is presented regarding the possible role of energetic constraints in the control of behavior. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

show abstract

“…Benefits are often measured in terms of food acquisition (Grand & Grant, 1994) and mating success (Warner & Hoffman, 1980). Costs of aggressive defense might include injury, vulnerability to predators, time spent not exploiting the resource, and energy expended (Haller, 1994).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggression and Welfare in a Common Aquarium Fish, the Midas Cichlid

Oldfield

2011

Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many species of fishes are aggressive when placed in small aquaria. Aggression can negatively affect the welfare of those individuals toward whom it is directed. Animals may behave aggressively in order to defend resources such as food, shelter, mates, and offspring. The decision to defend depends on the distribution of resources and on ecological factors such as number of competitors, amount of available space, and amount of habitat complexity. This study tested the effects of these factors on aggression in a common aquarium fish, the Midas cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus). The study found that time spent behaving aggressively was not associated with small-scale differences in group size or available space. Aggression was significantly lower in a large aquarium with a complex habitat. Aquaria of sizes typically used in the companion animal (pet) hobby did not provide optimal welfare for cichlids housed with aggressive conspecifics. The public should be aware that this and similar species require larger aquaria with complex habitat, which elicit more natural behavior.

show abstract

Biochemical costs of a three day long cohabitation in dominant and submissive maleBetta splendens

Cited by 9 publications

References 24 publications

Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

Life in a fishbowl: Space and environmental enrichment affect behaviour of Betta splendens

Behavioral tactics control the energy costs of aggression: The example of Macropodus opercularis

Aggression and Welfare in a Common Aquarium Fish, the Midas Cichlid

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About