Attraction to conspecific and nonconspecific chemical stimuli in male and female Macropodus opercularis (Teleostei, Anabantoidei),

Abstract

Socially isolated Macropodus opercularis showed a distinct approach response to water taken from the tank of a conspecific individual or a nonconspecific, Trichogaster trichopterus, but not to water from a tank without fish. It is proposed that these species produce chemical stimuli which are attractive to M. opercularis. Approach frequency and the total duration of approach during a 10-min period of stimulation varied with the species and the sex of the stimulus fish but not with the sex of the subject. Subjects responded most frequently to the conspecific male and nonconspecific female stimuli and, least to the nonconspecific male stimuli.