Convict strange behaviour....

[Natural_Born_Killer]

Over the last week I've noticed my little male convict acting quite strange...

He seems to be hiding an upper corner of my tank right where an airstone is. He just floats with the bubbles, swims down and floats up again... never leaving that little area.

I got him a female yesterday to hopefully make him feel less alone and have a partner... but she seems to be quite happy swimming around with everyone else.

Is this normal for him or am I missing something?

 

[Natural_Born_Killer]

Anyone have an idea? I'm getting a bit worried about my lil'guy...

 

[Steveo1987]

Does it look like hes floating straight up without actually swimming??

 

[Natural_Born_Killer]

Well, from what I saw he didn't seem to be struggling or anything... he just seems to linger there.

He goes up, then swims down then goes up again.

I did notice a small mark on on his pectoral fin, but that seems to be clearing up.

Other than that he seems healthy...

 

[Steveo1987]

But is he swimming straight up or just floating without any movement? Does he swim around like normal at any stage during the day? Could it be another fish bullying him, what fish are in the tank as well? Are the water parameters ok?

 

[Natural_Born_Killer]

Water is all fine...

He is with the big boys, but... his female who is smaller than him is happily swimming around with everyone.

He does swim around from time to time - but 95% of the time he just lingers around there.

 

[Steveo1987]

Water is all fine...

He is with the big boys, but... his female who is smaller than him is happily swimming around with everyone.

He does swim around from time to time - but 95% of the time he just lingers around there.

Are the big-boys you mentioned the 2 Oscars that you own? Maybe he feels intimidated by them, have you seen any of them attack or show aggression towards him? Hiding at the surface from my experience usually means that the fish is scared of something?!

 

[matt123]

i have a few fish that do the same thing ! its always after they have had a fight the looser ends up "hiding" in the bubble stream almost facing vertically down until the others are out of sight and then it will dash off and hide ! do you have many hideouts small enough for the con so as none of the other larger fish can get to him ??

 

[Steveo1987]

i have a few fish that do the same thing ! its always after they have had a fight the looser ends up "hiding" in the bubble stream almost facing vertically down until the others are out of sight and then it will dash off and hide ! do you have many hideouts small enough for the con so as none of the other larger fish can get to him ??

Good call on the small hiding spots, forgot to mention it!

 

[Natural_Born_Killer]

Well, his original companion did get eaten...

But, yeah plenty of hiding places all set out for him... little caves and everything that no one else can fit into (especially not the Oscars).

To be fair, they barely pay him any attention anymore... which is why I'd be surprised if it was an aggression thing.

I do have a 14g set up which is supposed to be for breed but is right now nursing a JD who got beaten up before who will be given to my LFS this weekend. Would it be better to place the cons in there till they gain some size?