On the predictability, sensitization, and habituation of aggression in male bettas (Betta splendens).

The winners of dyadic contests between male bettas (Betta splendens) were fish that in a 30-min prefight test spent a greater amount of time approaching a conspecific male that was confined behind clear glass. Approach duration was shown also to be a stable characteristic over periods as long as 30 days. Finally, approach durations and fight outcomes were influenced by both prior fighting and exposure to conspecifics behind glass. The nature of this influence, however, was dependent on the duration of an animal's approach duration in a 1/2-hr pretreatment test. Fish with low approach durations were influenced far more extensively by social experiences than were animals with high approach durations