Chocolate cichlid beats himself up in the mirror!

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FishDorkMike;3643744; said:
Wow, drama queens is right. Either way, its been a few days and it seems hes learned about himself having a reflection and doesnt bother with it anymore.
A fish with a sense of "self" Children don't even develop that until around age 2. You have a record setting fish.

And a fish that is now being exposed unnecessarily (and intentionally) to a LOT of stress. Probably not a good move.
 
i agree, very bad move
 
I get a kick out of putting a mirror in front of my tanks from time to time but only for a few mins

There are plenty of reasons to do it

1. to take pics when fish go into attack/deffensive mode they change colors and can make a great photo

2. like said above it can strengthen the bond between a pair of fish

3. Its a great way to tell how aggressive your fish are twords others of the same species
 
Well, I put him in the tank without the mirror, and he just hides under the filter where it meets the water this went on for a week, oh yeah, he liked hiding from a pleco in a clay pot i dremeled a door of sorts out of... He wont even eat. So the tank with the mirror (its part of the tank, there is really no taking it out unless i cover the mirror with some other sort of background material) ..atleast he eats and is active. I might as well go give him back to the LFS that had him in a crowded tank full of fish that most of you drama queens would say is unsuitable. I like a fish that eats, and one that does something other than hide in a clay pot going on hunger strikes for no reason. Also, he seems more stressed in the tank without the mirror, he stays a greenish white and keeps his fins tucked in (theres nothing wrong with the water conditions either), that is definately not how a happy chocolate cichlid is supposed to look. In the tank with the mirror is fins are out and pretty red, his colors of darker red and greens come out...Id say he generally seems to do better with the mirrored tank.
 
FishDorkMike;3652240; said:
Well, I put him in the tank without the mirror, and he just hides under the filter where it meets the water this went on for a week, oh yeah, he liked hiding from a pleco in a clay pot i dremeled a door of sorts out of... He wont even eat. So the tank with the mirror (its part of the tank, there is really no taking it out unless i cover the mirror with some other sort of background material) ..atleast he eats and is active. I might as well go give him back to the LFS that had him in a crowded tank full of fish that most of you drama queens would say is unsuitable. I like a fish that eats, and one that does something other than hide in a clay pot going on hunger strikes for no reason. Also, he seems more stressed in the tank without the mirror, he stays a greenish white and keeps his fins tucked in (theres nothing wrong with the water conditions either), that is definately not how a happy chocolate cichlid is supposed to look. In the tank with the mirror is fins are out and pretty red, his colors of darker red and greens come out...Id say he generally seems to do better with the mirrored tank.

No reason to insult the people giving you constructive criticism, they're just looking for the best interest of your fish.
 
Midas Madness;3652573; said:
No reason to insult the people giving you constructive criticism, they're just looking for the best interest of your fish.

Theres also nothing wrong with defending my decisions and giving reasons as to why I went the way that I did. If you bother to read this thread, I am not the first one to use the term "drama queen" . If you find anything I said insulting, I am sorry. That still does not negate the fact that that everything Ive said is true.
 
ill put a mirror in front of my tank and watch my jag go nuts for a little while. its fun to watch his color change and see him get so frustrated! BUT DONT WORRY PEOPLE, I TAKE IT DOWN!!!!!!!! DONT HATE ME!!! lol
 
badazz07sti;3652984; said:
ill put a mirror in front of my tank and watch my jag go nuts for a little while. its fun to watch his color change and see him get so frustrated! BUT DONT WORRY PEOPLE, I TAKE IT DOWN!!!!!!!! DONT HATE ME!!! lol

The chocolate doesnt look frustrated at all in the mirrored tank :) He floats around looking up, with colors that reflect how hes supposed to look when well cared for. That sure does beat hiding under a filter, laying on his side behind a rock or in a clay pot, not eating, etc etc etc. OMGIEZ I DONT CARE IF ANY OF YOU HATE ME! MY FISH CERTAINLY DOESNT! YES! I AM THAT CLAIRVOYANT! lol.
 
craig_uk;3637189; said:
And stressed to boot.

Well done you.

Mirrors should be used to re-enforce pair bond, not to bring out aggression in fish.

I gaurantee he gets damaged long before the glass does.

I agree.


ibz_rg;3637250; said:
Agreed. You've basically just introduced a fish of equal dominance in his eyes. So now when he bangs his face off of the glass all day, he has you to thank! Good job.

:)


You def live up to your name. Dork. I suppose you like dog fighting as well?
 
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