Scientists Create A Virtual Dating Game To Discover What Fish Want

Green swordtail fish were given a virtual dating game in which they could choose between potential mates displayed on screens at opposite ends of a tank.

The experiment involved 11 females and 12 males. Each fish’s preferred virtual mate was determined by the amount of time it spent near each option.

The winning virtual fish was then paired with the winner of another trial to create the next generation of digital mates. Researchers repeated the process for nine generations.

Males consistently chose larger females, while female choices showed more individual variation, including preferences for longer tails and brighter colors. By the final generation, virtual females were more than 24 percent larger than those in the first generation.

One female also increasingly chose males that resembled females as the generations progressed. Researchers said the reason for this pattern was unclear, suggesting it could be related to avoiding threatening characteristics in males.

Green swordtails are native to Central America, and males are known for their distinctive sword-like tails.