bamweevil Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 my silly firemouth has decided the heater in his tank is the enemy.Every time the heater turns on and the light comes on he attacks imppresively flaring his gills and colouring up beautifully. He also has a problem when we have vistors he flares his gills and attacks the glass throws sand around quite a impressive display he stops if i go near the tank but goes completly bonkers if the vistor goes closer. when hes not pretending to be a guard dog he becomes a sheep dog and herds the smaller fish into a corner of the tank at first i thought he was being nasty but on watching he does'nt bite at them he just pushs like a dog does with sheep. does anyone else have a silly fish like mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Perhaps you need to do some reading before buying fish, sounds like perfectly normal cichlid behavior to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Impressive Sounds like you've got one character there. My Firemouths have done some silly displays before, but the only one I've seen that flared up at humans was a huge one that was for sale at a local pet store - sold before I could buy it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Yeah he does sound like a character My firemouths were soft compared to that.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayci Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Had a Oscars that flared up at my ex father inlaw, noone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamweevil Posted April 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 he is a character all right before he move into his new tank he was quite nervous and shy. Now hes always swimming around the tank showing off so i have taken that as a sign off aproval. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 I have a young male Firemouth that thought he was a hero... till recently my big Jack Dempsey pair came back from their holiday in hubbys work display tank... now he is pretty sedate and doesn't feel as important :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 To put it simply, the firemouth has taken ownership of the tank. Visitors are a threat to his territory. The small fish are herded into the corner, as the rest of the tank is his. As for the heater, my guess is he sees the colour as a threat, as it is similar to his. Does he herd the fish into the opposite side of the tank to the heater? Or the same?May not be a threat Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOi Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 hahah classic... made my day. Would be one of those wonderful stories to tell.. and what a character. He probably loves his new tank. try moving the heater around to another spot and see if he still is hating that thing.. :lol: One of my cichlids is trying to cover the inlet hole of my filter, cant make sure which one exactly cuz when he does it im never around.. but im guessing its my livingstonii.. he spits sand into it and covers the bottom.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatito Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Does he herd the fish into the opposite side of the tank to the heater? Or the same?May not be a threat Haha, that would be interesting... One of my cichlids is trying to cover the inlet hole of my filter, cant make sure which one exactly cuz when he does it im never around.. but im guessing its my livingstonii.. he spits sand into it and covers the bottom.. Very cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamweevil Posted April 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 i have tried moving the heater he just finds it and the game starts again as for herding when hes in the mood it doesnt matter which corner they are never the same. This morning he found a new toy i accidently drop my fish food lid in. The result was fred biting and pushing it around his tank he seem dispointed when i took it back out. thankfully he never seems to have a problem with me cleaning his tank. hmmm maybe im just my fishs housemaid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatito Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 man, i want a firemouth now!!! :lol: Let's experiment... Put another heater in, so one at each end of the tank - then either let the tank cool a couple of degrees before turning the heaters on, so both lights are lit, or just have them both on to see how he feels about two red lights to keep an eye on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOi Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 or even better.. try bubbles hahahah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamweevil Posted April 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 hmm two heaters now would drive him nuts but then again knowing fred he would set up a schedule mon tues wed left hand side heater thur fri sat right hand side and sun herding. i can just see him sitting there going my bubbles like the fish of nemo lol well he makes my day fun, first job this morning is replanting three new plants i have put in and checking my rocks are still stable they seem to have move hmmm i wonder how that happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOi Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 well he makes my day fun, first job this morning is replanting three new plants i have put in and checking my rocks are still stable they seem to have move hmmm i wonder how that happen. He is a digger too? :lol: My rocks also moved ever since i put them in... damn smooth face round rocks.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamweevil Posted April 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2007 He is forever sifting the sand for food and poking around his rocks looking for food.The rocks are only for decoration I have build caves for him in the past but he never uses them. When he displays and attacks the glass when we have vistors he moves and stirs up impressive amounts of sand so much so he leaves little craters in the sand. From his behaviour i can understand why the mexican name for them means little bulls. cant wait to see what he does when hes full growen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOi Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 hahaha this is one exception that id say it beats the old tv :lol: speaking of funny behaviours.. sorry to hijack a bit. Must share this: I was at organism this afternoon and was looking at the cichlids (i missed out on the last new shipment of good fishes aro etc). Anyways, there was this one cichlid that was swimming fine then suddenly corkscrewing around the tank.. did a few laps and did it a few minutes too.. literally corkscrewing in laps around the tank with outer fish in it.. i was surprised and i thought it was a goner.. was doing it really quick as well.. must have lasted for a good 3 minutes.. then its stop the poor fish was o its side.. but to my amazement just taking a breather.. then swim around normally and happily again.. weird but amusing.. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 jeez you must have been in there when i was! Didn't notice the loopy cichlid though. Couldn't make up my mind what to get. Is it bad that i went straight from Redwood to Organisms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOi Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 jeez you must have been in there when i was! Didn't notice the loopy cichlid though. i was there around 2-3ish.. there were 2 witnesses ,, haha john missed out as he was with another customer.. Is it bad that i went straight from Redwood to Organisms? hahah i do that at times but only when nothing amuses me in redwood.. organism is a good place to hang out.. been telling john he needs a nice display tank and a couch.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aae1 Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Hi Guys. Just a quick Question (not really related). Can someone tell me where organism is in CHCH as Ive only ever gone to Redwoods when I go to CHCH. Do they have much in the way of African Cichlids? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Hi Guys. Just a quick Question (not really related). Can someone tell me where organism is in CHCH as Ive only ever gone to Redwoods when I go to CHCH. Do they have much in the way of African Cichlids? Thanks they are on corner of clyde and ilam road (399 Ilam Rd) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamweevil Posted April 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 hmmm a couch and display tank at organism would be great idea need a coffee bar too and it would be prefect. i just wonder thou how would all the organisms fans would fit in i think harcourts would have to go. i like redwoods too and is really handy just around the corner so easy to say hun going get the goceries whoops how did a new fish instead of the bread and milk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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