SENSITIZATION OF ESCAPE IN FEMALE BETTA SPLENDENS

Following 1 day of cohabitation with a male, female Siamese fighting f ish showed heightened escape from male conspecifics (enclosed behind g lass). Escape from males was general in that no particular male stimul us was required to provoke female escape. However, female conspecifics remained relatively attractive following exposure to a male, Tactile stimulation of females by males (biting, perhaps) plays some role and may be required in sensitizing females' escape from males. (C) 1996 Wi ley Liss, Inc.