Eight sexually experienced males and 12 sexually experienced temales
were maintained during the study. These were obtained from aquarium
dealers in Stillwater and Oklahoma City. Ten pairs, offspring of the sexually
experienced pairs, were raised in the laboratory and their reproductive
behavior was studied during their first spawning sequences. Twentytwo
recordings of the reproductive and courtship behavior patterns were
made, 11 on the sexually experienced group and 11 on the sexually Inexperienced
group. Males and females of near equal size were paired for
observation and recording purposes, but mates were changed so that one
male did not continually spawn with the same female. Females were
introduced periodically and were removed after completion of a spawning
sequence. Only males were permanent residents of each aquarium.