I think it's worth considering the possibility that there is no "recognition" of any sort occurring here. It seems more likely to me that these fish...with brains the size of grains of salt...are acting entirely on instinct. The individual that was returned to the original tank was probably somewhat stressed from the move, and was placed into an environment with which he might be no longerfunfamiliar (depending upon how long he was absent). His behaviour, his "body language", probably his hor bonal and other chemical secretions...these indicators, imperceptible to us, were likely as clear as a neon sign to his erstwhile buddies.
Piranhas in a tank in an aquarium shop where I once worked tolerated each other, aside from the occasional torn fin or deftly removed eyeball...but if a fish were seriously injured or stressed it was quickly shredded and devoured. On at least two occasions the entire school of adult fish was spooked by some commotion in the store, and a fish jumped. One knocked off the cover and landed on the floor, and was quickly restored to the tank. The other struck the cover so hard that it was apparently stunned. Both fish were quickly killed.
Wild turkeys are a bird that moves and travels in flocks. Hunters are very familiar with watching an entire flock of these birds relentless attacking one of their number who has been shot and lies dead or dying on the ground...showing weakness.
In both of these cases, we are talking about animal species that are gregarious and live in groups...and yet they are still quite willing and quite prepared to kill each other. But in the case of the betta, their natural behaviour is to live solitary lives, rigidly defending their individual territories; this is well-known, so anyone keeping them should be aware of it. I'm not sure what part of "Siamese Fighting Fish" is unclear.
The locals who originally caught and bred bettas for fighting did indeed select for the fiercest, strongest individuals...but they didn't choose this species because it was so docile, friendly and community-minded to begin with. They chose it because it wasn't.
Piranhas in a tank in an aquarium shop where I once worked tolerated each other, aside from the occasional torn fin or deftly removed eyeball...but if a fish were seriously injured or stressed it was quickly shredded and devoured. On at least two occasions the entire school of adult fish was spooked by some commotion in the store, and a fish jumped. One knocked off the cover and landed on the floor, and was quickly restored to the tank. The other struck the cover so hard that it was apparently stunned. Both fish were quickly killed.
Wild turkeys are a bird that moves and travels in flocks. Hunters are very familiar with watching an entire flock of these birds relentless attacking one of their number who has been shot and lies dead or dying on the ground...showing weakness.
In both of these cases, we are talking about animal species that are gregarious and live in groups...and yet they are still quite willing and quite prepared to kill each other. But in the case of the betta, their natural behaviour is to live solitary lives, rigidly defending their individual territories; this is well-known, so anyone keeping them should be aware of it. I'm not sure what part of "Siamese Fighting Fish" is unclear.
The locals who originally caught and bred bettas for fighting did indeed select for the fiercest, strongest individuals...but they didn't choose this species because it was so docile, friendly and community-minded to begin with. They chose it because it wasn't.
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