Can you condition a Jaguar Cichlid to change its behavior?

[AquariumLver]

I have this BEAST of a subadult Jag, and I have a major problem with him. He is using his teeth to scratch up the inside glass of my brand- new aquarium. Does anyone know how to stop him from doing this?


The above picture is the scratches.

When I catch him doing it, I show him the net and he stops; however, I am finding new prominent scratches every day. I guess I can't catch him all the time...lol





The above picture is Dracul in all his destructive glory.

 

[HUKIT]

He might be seeing his reflection as a rival and attack the glass. I would try taping dark matte-colored backing (like black or dark blue vinyl) or painting the outside of the tank black with oil based paint.

Is he glass surfing?

 

[AquariumLver]

I think he is reacting to his

He might be seeing his reflection as a rival and attack the glass. I would try taping dark matte-colored backing (like black or dark blue vinyl) or painting the outside of the tank black with oil based paint.

Is he glass surfing?

I think he is reacting to his reflection. It's the front of the glass that he is scratching. Will a dark background keep him from seeing his reflection on the front of the glass?

 

[HUKIT]

I think he is reacting to his

I think he is reacting to his reflection. It's the front of the glass that he is scratching. Will a dark background keep him from seeing his reflection on the front of the glass?

The dark background and sides may help to prevent those panes being damaged but I don’t have an idea for the front pane. Is tank aquascaped? Maybe he’s stressed or bored so some hides and decor might help. I mean there is a reason why they’re called glass bangers, Lol.

 

[do minh]

i think you can setup one glasses into tank , reduce stress forhim

 

[Roger Mcfish]

Or dentist.

 

[AquariumLver]

The dark background and sides may help to prevent those panes being damaged but I don’t have an idea for the front pane. Is tank aquascaped? Maybe he’s stressed or bored so some hides and decor might help. I mean there is a reason why they’re called glass bangers, Lol.

Yes, the tank is aquascaped.

 

[AquariumLver]

The dark background and sides may help to prevent those panes being damaged but I don’t have an idea for the front pane. Is tank aquascaped? Maybe he’s stressed or bored so some hides and decor might help. I mean there is a reason why they’re called glass bangers, Lol.

More like glass scratchers...lol

 

[phreeflow]

Amazing that it’s able to scratch a glass tank like with his teeth.

I once kept a saltwater triggerfish that would swim with up crushed coral chunk and scrape it across the front glass. Was never able to stop that behavior

I think one of the posters above was suggesting you add a glass mirror inside the tank like some people do with flowerhorns. Maybe that will keep him from glass banging the front. However, that’ll probably keep it constantly stressed but maybe it already is.