Guppies and Alpha Male Feeding Patterns

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Guppies and Alpha Male Feeding Patterns

• By Scott Little

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Introduction

• Native to North Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela,
  Barbados and Trinidad
• Scientific Name Poecilia Reticula
• Members of the Pike Family
• Live in brackish or salty water
• Average Adult Length 2.5
• Females are slightly larger, less colorful

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Introduction

• Large variety of color schemes and fin shapes
• Colors due to microscopic melanophores located in
  the skin
• Supporting skeleton with a vertebral column from
  head to tail
• Ribs attached to vertebrae protect vital organs

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Anatomy
(1) mouth, (2) nostril, (3) eye, (4) lateral
line, (5) dorsal fin, (6) caudal fin or tail,(7)
gonopodium (modified anal fin (8) ventral fin,
(9) pectoral fin, (10) operculum covering gills,
(11) chin.   Courtesy of Guppies.com
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Introduction

• Swimming is accomplished by moving the caudal fin
  in a figure eight pattern
• Bred and raised in captivity for years
• Amateur and Professional Breeders
• Relatively inexpensive
• Dont require heating and filtration apparatus
• Live on just about any fish food

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Experiment

• Currently have three male guppies in one
  10-gallon tank
• Russian Blue, Double Albino Swordtail, Double
  Pastel Swordtail
• Purchased approximately four months ago from the
  same tank at the pet store
• Approximately the same size

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Russian Blue and Double Swordtail
Courtesy of Guppies.com
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Experiment

• Almost immediately, the Double Albino (A1) showed
  dominant behavior
• Swim to the front of the tank at feeding time
• Consume most of the food floating on top
• The Russian Blue (B1) and the Double Pastel
  Swordtail (B1) mostly ate from the bottom of the
  tank

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Experiment
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Experiment

• A1 is substantially larger than B1 B2
• B1 B2 move out of the way if A1 swims to their
  location

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Experiment
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Shyness-Boldness Continuum

• By Jean Strick
• Waiving a red stick and a lure in a population of
  10 Guppies, 2 at a time
• Rating
• 1 M (meter stick)-Bold
• 2 M-Shy
• 3. L (lure)-Bold
• 4. L-Shy

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Shyness-Boldness Continuum

• The Guppies were tested 168 times
• Bolder to the non-threatening lure
• Approached it a total of 107 times
• Less bold with the threatening stick
• Approached it only 45 times
• Responded shy to the lure 61 times
• Responded shy to the stick 129 times

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Self Experiment

• Witnessed behavior to attractive stimulus (food)
• Conclusion
• A1 always approached food in bold manner,
  regardless of placement of food in tank
• B1 B2 approached food in either bold or shy
  manner, depending on position proximity of A1
  to their feeding pattern
• Hierarchy of Alpha selection produced this
  pattern

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Self Experiment

• Possible that none of the fish would exhibit shy
  behavior towards the food if alone or if B1 or B2
  were the Alpha Male of the group
• Need threatening stimulus for fish to react in a
  shy or bold manner
• Tried 10 trials with plastic serving spoon
• Not threatened
• Need something more intimidating

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Self Experiment

• Tried the green net I use to catch the Guppies
  when cleaning or changing the water
• The Guppies might associate it with something
  negative
• Noticed profoundly different behavior
• After 40 trials, only B2 approached it one time,
  within 2
• All the Guppies did their best to avoid it

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Self Experiment

• Instinct to survive is greater than established
  feeding hierarchy
• No effort from A1 to protect B1 or B2
• Survival overrides leadership
• Since A1 is larger and more aggressive, he would
  end up with more food
• A1 would also be more successful mating

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Alpha Male Behavior

• In more advanced animal species, such as wolves,
  Alpha Male behavior establishes a hierarchy that
  includes
• Feeding patterns
• Mating
• Protection of the group as a whole
• Could only test Guppy feeding pattern
• Possibility that with a less advanced brain, only
  concerned with personal survival
• Humans begin to function at motor skill level
  when threatened

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Conclusion

• Guppies exhibit primitive level of Alpha Male
  behavior
• Does not include higher function
• Not capable of responsibility
• Will try a non-recognizable intimidating object
  in future experiments