Pet Care

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Pet Care Animal Behavior

• All you need to know about Betta Fish care

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Got Chocolate?

• Frisbee got one taste and..

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Got Chocolate?

• He wanted more! But why? Is it bad?

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Chocolate Poisoning

• Theobromine
• - naturally occurring stimulant found in the
  cocoa bean
• - affects central nervous system along with the
  heart
• - toxic to dogs if ingested in large amounts

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Great for a centerpiece!

• Why is this bad???

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Betta Splendens

• Betta Fish
• Siamese Fighting Fish
• Origin Cambodia, Thailand
• Water Temperature 75-86 F (24-30 C)
• Special anatomy Labyrinth organ
• Social behavior Males cannot be kept together

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Social Behavior

• Why cant males be kept together?
• Lets experiment with this idea and see if we can
  find something out

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Observations

• One group member will hold the mirror
• One group member will record observations
• The rest of the group members will observe the
  behavior
• You have 3 minutes to observe and record
• Class discussion after the 3 minutes are up

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What did you observe?
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Observations

• Flaring
• - opening of gills to provide the illusion of
  size
• Fin display
• Color streaking
• Swimming patterns

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Observations

• Flaring
• - opening of gills to provide the illusion of
  size
• Fin display
• Color streaking
• Swimming patterns

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Flaring
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Why do they display these behaviors?

• Provide intimidation in confrontations with other
  male bettas
• If in the same bowl, they will fight
• - consists of nipping at fins until exhaustion
• Reasons behind fighting? Any ideas?

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Resource Defense Polygyny

• Defense of territory rich in resources that would
  aid in reproduction
• Could be as simple as a safe location for eggs

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Defense of Eggs

• Protection of fry, or fertilized eggs
• No betta fish in domestic settings have resources
  or eggs to defend, but these behaviors are
  genetically determined

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More observations

• Take another 2 minutes in your group to observe
  your fish without the mirror
• Take note of behaviors relating to breathing

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What did you observe?
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Betta Splendens

• Betta Fish
• Siamese Fighting Fish
• Origin Cambodia, Thailand
• Water Temperature 75-86 F (24-30 C)
• Special anatomy Labyrinth organ
• Social behavior Males cannot be kept together

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Labyrinth Organ

• Betta goes to surface for air
• Air forced into labyrinth organ and passed
  through lamellae
• - small maze-like compartments of thin boney
  plates
• Blood passes through the lamellae membranes and
  oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream

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Betta Splendens

• Betta Fish
• Siamese Fighting Fish
• Origin Cambodia, Thailand
• Water Temperature 75-86 F (24-30 C)
• Special anatomy Labyrinth organ
• Social behavior Males cannot be kept together

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Environment

• Come from shallow waters in these tropical
  regions
• Can become listless at under 75 F
• Heat controlled larger bowl

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The Story of P.A.T.

• Moral?