A new study, submitted in preprint form and not yet publicly peer-reviewed, examines the initial phase of aggressive confrontations between Siamese fighting fish, or cockerels (Betta splendens).
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This stage is called the display phase: the fish alternately open their gills – like a dance in which one tries to intimidate the other, causing the other to decide to flee or fight. To find out which aspects of this performance might play a key role in determining the sequence of actions, the scientists observed how the roosters responded either to live counterparts or to realistic animations on a screen next to the aquarium.
It turned out that roosters were more likely to attack when another fish was near the surface of the water and turned sideways. This may indicate the important role of orientation in aggression.
