My Moorii Swims Vertical

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Razor7Music

Razor7Music

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2008
440
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Irvine, CA
www.myspace.com
Hello--

I just got a little Tropheus Moorii that is about an inch long and he treads water swimming vertically. :nilly: When he wants to 'move' he swims normal. This is my first and only moorii so I was wondering if this is normal and if it will continue when he gets bigger?

Thanks,
 
Sounds like something I've only seen when a fish is stressed out. What are the tankmates? Water parameters?
 
I've only had it since Monday--3 days, and it's always done it. I have other Af cichlids and they seem to leave him alone because he's small and no threat. I also have some other small/young cichlids and they are left alone too.

At first I thought maybe there was something wrong with his tail fin or the back of his dorsal fin where they use it like a rudder, but when he wants to propel himself, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong.

He's eating and acting normal in other ways.
 
i think your tank is overpopulated - and new fish couldnt find place/territory so is looking to leave - normal thing for younger ones. Check water/test, And try to rearange your tank a bit - could help.
 
paigntonlad;3273332;3273332 said:
its quite normal, so dont worry about it.
If a malawi doesnt have a cave or rock to call home, whether because hes been evicted by a tougher tank mate, or in your case, its a new fish in an established setup, then the fish will tend to use things like heater stats, or filter pipes etc to hide behind, and generally the filter pipes are vertical, so the fish sits vertically too.
You should find after a few days your fish will settle in a find a more suitable home.

It is not swim bladder problems, as has been suggested here, so dont medicate the tank!!

Good luck mate
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You are 100% correct. The little guy is swimming normally now and all around the tank. It had to do with being newer and smaller than the others. Now, he fends for himself, eats, oh, yea, and swims normally.

It did help me come up with a name for him though. I named him Nemo!

Thank you!
 
paigntonlad;3274834; said:
thanks razor, its good to know!
Malawis are funny little things, they HATE having no rocks to fight over, so they act all wierd, as you said, after a few days all is well!!!
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Yea, and even though this fish is from Tanganyika and there are plenty of rock formations in my tank to hide in, when you're little and new, you have to adjust just like most living things.

Thanks again--and BTW--he has risen up the pecking order by one, with a Taiwan reef peacock that I bought at the same time and is little as well. Kind of funny to see the dramatic personality/behavior changes.
 
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