Well-fed fish 'more attractive to females'

Research has found female Eastern mosquitofish are able to differentiate between well-fed males and those with poor nutrition.

Providing a plentiful supply of fish food to males could help encourage breeding, a new study has indicated.

The research, set to be published in an upcoming edition of the Biology Letters journal, shows female Eastern mosquitofish tend to associate themselves with males that are regularly fed, Practical Fishkeeping reports.

Eastern mosquitofish, also known as Gambusia holbrooki, are generally omnivores and will eat algae, but their diet can also be supplemented with flake food such as Tetra Pond Flake Food.

Female fish were able to tell the difference between normal males and those that had been deprived of food, despite the fact the latter group appeared the same physically because they had delayed their sexual maturity until they were the same size.

Swimming performance and gonopodial length are believed to be two factors used by the females to determine the nutritional status of the males, but researchers could not confirm this.

They were also unable to work out the reason for the females' decision, but suggested it could be that males with poor nutritional history are more likely to be carrying diseases, which could result in sickly offspring.

Posted by Olivia Rose
© Copyright

Thursday, 2 Feb 2012, 5:09pm