RESPON PERILAKU JANGKA PENDEK (Short-Term Behavioral Response) IKAN CUPANG (Betta splendens) TERHADAP VARIASI SUHU DAN SALINITAS AIR

Abstract

This study investigated the short-term behavioral response of Betta splendens to variations in water temperature and salinity. Locomotor activity is a sensitive behavioral indicator reflecting physiological condition and acute stress in fish, particularly under rapid environmental changes commonly occurring in ornamental fish maintenance. A factorial completely randomized design (3×3) was applied, combining three temperature levels (25°C, 28°C, and 31°C) and three salinity levels (0, 5, and 10 ppt), with two replications for each treatment. Behavioral observations were conducted over a 30-minute period following a one-hour stabilization, focusing on fin movement frequency, tail movement frequency, horizontal and vertical movements, and freeze duration. An Activity Index (AI) was calculated to quantify overall locomotor performance. The results showed that the highest locomotor activity occurred at 28°C and 0 ppt, indicated by the highest fin and tail movement frequencies, increased active movements, and the shortest freeze duration. In contrast, increased salinity consistently reduced activity levels across all temperatures, with the lowest activity observed at 25°C and 10 ppt. These patterns suggest that 28°C represents an optimal temperature for Betta splendens, while elevated salinity imposes additional osmoregulatory stress, reducing locomotor performance. The findings confirm that temperature and salinity are key environmental factors influencing short-term behavioral responses and highlight the importance of proper water quality management to prevent acute stress in ornamental fish.