Strange behavior

[Musicmeg]

I was just curious if anyone else has an oscar that does this. Every night when I turn off his lights he floats up to the top and leans over on his side. Usually, his body is curved so that his tail is pointing down and his fins are still moving. At first I thought he was just inspecting the lights, but he does it regularly and stays that way for some time. I never stay up late enough to see that he is that way all night. I have never noticed him in that position the next day when I turn lights on. It seems harmless, but I just wanted to know if it is normal or not.

 

[GarFreak]

you sir. have a retarded fish... haha lol.

 

[GarFreak]

ahem
. i mean miss.

 

[a1c Rezentes]

haha idk if its normal but it sounds pretty funny

 

[cacichlids]

Oscars are notorious for "getting mad" at all sort of things, even stupid things like light. They often sulk or "pout" for hours when there's a sudden change in their environment.

But the "floating on its side" with its body curved is supposedly a "submissive gesture", I see it a lot when my dominant fish swims by the sub-dominant ones... they will turn sideways and curve their body.

What you see your Oscar doing is a classic "submissive" gesture. The Jack Dempsey is either bigger or rougher and tougher, or both, than the Oscar. Anyway, Jack ranks higher in the tank's pecking order (formally known as "dominance heirarchy") than Oscar does. So to avoid geting beaten up by the more dominant fish, when Jack swims by, Oscar ducks his head and sort of rolls on his side. This is similar to when a dog lowers its head and tail, or even rolls on its back, when confronted by a bigger dog. It's pantomime for "Look, Jack, I'm smaller and weaker than you; I'm no threat to you; so don't waste your energy trying to fight me."

I have no idea why your Oscar is doing it though, maybe he thinks you're a dominant fish lol

 

[Musicmeg]

Wow, thanks. That is really interesting information. I have no idea why he would be submitting to the darkness. Maybe he really is a little retarded. LOL. He is pretty docile as oscars go. He is fully mature at somewhere between 12-14 inches and tolerates the bicher and the severum. He will menace them sometimes with a little chase, but it is rare and usually just one pass and he leaves them alone.