Large hole

[Allan01230]

my adult teardrop barbs actually started doing this also no sense moving it back they will just redig hole

 

[Allan01230]

my adult teardrop barbs actually started doing this also no sense moving it back they will just redig hole

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

There is time my Jag moved all gravels to 1 side of his tank and other half is sparkle spotless clean bottom...and they are spawned there

 

[Drstrangelove]

I've kept an Oscar who did that all time. My niece has a Midas who does the same or worse.

I used to think it was strange since both were/are the only fish in the tank, but I guess it's just instinctive to do it in case a potential mate somehow appears.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I've kept an Oscar who did that all time. My niece has a Midas who does the same or worse.

I used to think it was strange since both were/are the only fish in the tank, but I guess it's just instinctive to do it in case a potential mate somehow appears.

I don't think this behavior is strictly mating related, I think it is partly just so the fish feel comfortable. In the wild, they need to watch out for predators, and what place better to hide than a hole you dug ? I find my fish often dig their "holes" in a corner or near/under wood and rocks, probably to hide from larger fish or air-breathing predators.

 

[Grinch]

I don't think this behavior is strictly mating related, I think it is partly just so the fish feel comfortable. In the wild, they need to watch out for predators, and what place better to hide than a hole you dug ? I find my fish often dig their "holes" in a corner or near/under wood and rocks, probably to hide from larger fish or air-breathing predators.

+1

Mating, feeding, territoriality, defense... all play a role. Cichlids are notorious diggers in general.

 

[Drstrangelove]

That's a reasonable and logical alternative. It could be not only an alternate, but perhaps the sole reason. But tbh, I can't think of a way that it can be determined why they do it. In both conditions, it's unnecessary and done in single specimen tanks.

 

[Hendre]

Geophagus sift sand to find food, which is why most people keep them on that instead of gravel. It's commonplace for cichlids to do this apparently

 

[FMA4ME]

My little Keyhole Cichlids dig little pits in the sand, and sleep in them.

 

[The camaro show]

I knew geos did that with sand I've seen mine take whole peices of gravel and spit them out