Is this a mating call? He definitely does it to get our attention. Any ideas about this behavior?
He only does it when he wants attention from me, I didn’t think it was a normal “mating call” for these fish, but he definitely is doing it to get attention, I havent ever seen a fish that let a person pick it up out of the water,but he lets me do that and sometimes I think he think we’re dating.I don't think it's a "mating call", more like just a fun noise to make. Like when kids put their arms against their mouth and make the "fart noise", I think he is just playing. That, or there is condensation dripping off the bottom of the lid in that spot and it looks suspiciously like food.
He is a pig, he eats plenty, and I forgot to mention he ignores food when he is doing this. I have tried his favoritesas a response, he couldn’t care less. Hilarious fish, will investigate the condensation drops angle, thanks all.I suspect that he's attempting to get your attention, in the hopes of you dropping some food in the tank. I have a large male midas that hammers the glass lids, and bites the front pane of glass in his tank to get my attention. It appears to me to always be associated to food, as in I missed feeding him on that day, or I am taking to long to get to his tank, while feeding the fish in my other tanks.
Very cool info, thanks!In the book, "The Cichlid Fishes, Natures Grand Experiment in Evolution" by George Barlow, there is a a chapter called Cichlid Speak. in part stating
"sounds heard have been mostly low-frequency grunts, these are emitted characteristically during hostel displays, and sometimes during courtship.
Herotilapia multispinossa produces what have been described as volleys and thumps or purrs.
Oerochromis mossambicus has a relatively rich repertoire of sounds.
in a study of Archocentris centrarchus, underwater microphones placed in aquaria, many various noises were recorded.