A must see! Fish that likes to be thrown?!? Or is it something else?

[philipraposo1982]

if you haven't seen this:

I just found it. I really do get the feeling like this fish is enjoying the petting and being tossed. I can't come up with another reason why the fish would keep going back. It doesn't appear to be starving either (nice big belly).

I know my gt, if he is a bit pissed cause I was in the tank cleaning it up he will just go and chill near his cave till I am done then come up to the glass and watch what else I am doing. But he would never do something like this.

 

[MrsE88]

Huh, it does seem like it enjoys the interaction.

 

[JAYBIRD1011]

Very cool! People who say fish are boring pets, have never met a cichlid.

 

[BIG-G]

Yeah that's pretty cool. If he did mind it I don't think he would keep coming back.

 

[FriedFlowerHornFillet]

I think it's an aggression thing. Notice dude doesn't have his hands near the mouth or under the water line long enough to get bit.

 

[johnny potatoes]

A couple years ago I had a 20" jardini that would continually swim back into my hand as I dangled it in the tank. It was kinda how a cat or dog will rub against your hand for attention. I would get tired of it looking before the jardini would.

 

[philipraposo1982]

The fish is moving to slowly to be aggressive enough to come back after being thrown. He would be trying to bite him.

I had a golden Ram and a geo tapajos both males and both were super aggro towards me. Both would bit me if I put my hand in the water and charge me hard. Was clear to see they were pissed.

The fish in the video doesn't seem pissed at all imo.

 

[FriedFlowerHornFillet]

Even in tanks when they beat up their favorite tankmate/punching bag they don't always hit them like an ICBM sometimes they'll cruise up casually and then bite. They hit smaller prey items hard but in a fight with a bigger fish you'll notice they're more conservative with their speed after the first strike fails to kill
Watch his hands. I had to see the video about 3 times to really catch it -It wants to bite his hands it's waiting for the right moment and when it turns to bite him he get's scooped up and tossed.

 

[Grinch]

It does seem like he is being very careful not to get bitten. Interesting seeing that he can "call" the fish with the little hand squirt. I wonder if that mimicks the sound of another fish feeding at the surface? In that case, the return/approach of the fish might be in response to the expectation of food being offered... or aggression/territory defense. Cool find OP!

 

[nossalucard]

oooooh I would pay out the arse for that midas......

I had one back in 2012 that loved to be petted by my significant other, although he always bit the crap out of me, but I loved him and hated to give him away due to another (final retirement) military move...