weird behavior

[ladyoutlaw50]

I am wondering what my fish are up to -- one of my fish is chasing another one around quite a bit --- once they are near each other -- the fish that is doing the chasing -- turns it butt toward the other fish and then does the shimmy shake dance and swims off. Is that fish flirting or what??

[kaybee]

It can be, but there is also another possibility.

Body-shaking is form of body language used to either attract a mate, or threaten a rival or advertise dominance. In both cases there may be an intensity of coloration.

The shaking is also believed to emit vibrations (which can be detected by other fish in proximity) and project pheromones.

The line between attracting a mate and threatening a rival is thin (for example, unreceptive females are usually drive off when the flirting intent doesn't appeal to them).

What species are these two cichlids?

[ladyoutlaw50]

One, the aggressor, I have been told, is a hybrid and the other is a zebra. The aggressor seeks the other out -- sometimes the non aggressor follows the aggressor around. Very strange and comical at the same time

[ladyoutlaw50]

I was just watching and I noticed my aggressor is going into the "cave" and removing rocks. At first I couldn't figure out where the extra rocks were coming from -- well they weren't extra there were from the "cave"

[smcurry83]

I had a fish that started taking gravel out of a cave in my tank. It actually got the majority of the gravel out. It wouldn't move any if I was watching, but I caught it a few times from across the room. I was planning on fixxing it during the next water change, but one morning when I got up, the fish had already fixxed it. Kinda cool to watch and see what your fish will do.

[ladyoutlaw50]

Yes it is funny!!! He does it while I am sitting in my "tank" chair. I have a recliner right in front of my tanks -- I can sit and just watch my fish and alot of times just fall asleep!! LOL Everyone gets a kick out of me sitting there -- my daughter calls me the crazy fish mom -- LOL

[Dixie]

OMG another crazy fish lady! My whole family thinks I'm a crazy fish mom. Nothing against cats here lol, but I tell them "I'd rather be a crazy fish lady than a crazy cat lady with litter boxes all over the house".

[Dixie]

Oh the behavior, nothing strange about it...it's perfectly normal. Maybe clearing out the cave to mate. Maybe just doing some spring cleaning lol.

[ladyoutlaw50]

He is so funny while doing it tho -- he comes right to the edge of the glass and just hangs there for a minute with a huge rock in his mouth and then just drops it. I am sure he has his reasons!! LOL

[Ryuu]

Lol thats funny, fish have the funniest ways of communicating, and there personality is funny

[angelcakes]

sounds like youre fish could be getting fruity..........or he thinks youre tanks untidy:hmm3grin2orange: my oscar rearanges his tank all the time:hmm3grin2orange:

[Ryuu]

lol there like little humans, none of my fish re arange the tank, but when my rustys get older im sure they will

[Collin1104]

ive got two little johannis at about two inches and i swear they move about 50 times their weight in sand everyday!! when i put a rock down they make a cave and im like oh thats nice but no they have to dig all the way to the other side and make a tunnel lol

[ladyoutlaw50]

I figure it keeps them busy and out of trouble LOL:laugh1blue: