Things that have puzzled you about fish

[Freeze_Dried_Bloodworm]

-Why are saltwater fish more easily frightened than freshwater? It's nearly inpossible to get pictures of the salties at petshops, but freshies always investigate the camera.

-Do fish recognize themselves in camera lenses?

First one wouldn't be easy to test since I don't have any saltwater fish and I can't afford to go to the lfs a lot.
Second one is rather interesting but I don't think they do know it's them, I'm just guessing they think it's another fish.

 

[oscarcrazy]

-Why are saltwater fish more easily frightened than freshwater? It's nearly inpossible to get pictures of the salties at petshops, but freshies always investigate the camera.

Difficult to measure and also is subjective.


-Do fish recognize themselves in camera lenses?

Impossible to measure.

 

[FSM]

Convict cichlids breed super easy, and they stay small. A 20 gallon is fine for a small pair.

a few things that puzzle me about fish:
why do my giant danios jump out of the water when the lights go on/off?

and why do aggressive cichlids challenge their much larger owners? (glass banging, etc)

 

[Freeze_Dried_Bloodworm]

Convict cichlids breed super easy, and they stay small. A 20 gallon is fine for a small pair.

a few things that puzzle me about fish:
why do my giant danios jump out of the water when the lights go on/off?

and why do aggressive cichlids challenge their much larger owners? (glass banging, etc)

those are interesting questions but my guess is they're not the easiest thing to answer

 

[Footballref50]

I like oscar's idea with the food comparison! And yes convicts are the easiest cichlid to breed. Just add water. As far as a twist on the food idea i'd compare a varied diet (i.e. using a variety of foods rather than just a conventional flake diet with some run of the mill fancy guppies or tetras.) The goal would be to see if the growth rate increases, to see if there is a difference in activity due to the food or added aggression. As well as to see if it effects the overall coloration of the fish. Only drawback is that you'd have to have precisely the same conditions in both tanks to have accurate results.

 

[Freeze_Dried_Bloodworm]

I like oscar's idea with the food comparison! And yes convicts are the easiest cichlid to breed. Just add water. As far as a twist on the food idea i'd compare a varied diet (i.e. using a variety of foods rather than just a conventional flake diet with some run of the mill fancy guppies or tetras.) The goal would be to see if the growth rate increases, to see if there is a difference in activity due to the food or added aggression. As well as to see if it effects the overall coloration of the fish. Only drawback is that you'd have to have precisely the same conditions in both tanks to have accurate results.

awesome idea!!!!
it would be more like live/natural/fresh foods vs. commercial foods

 

[Footballref50]

FSM, to answer your ? about agro cichlids "attacking" they're much larger owner, it's simple! IMO fish (cichlids in particular) are def NOT dumb as they are percieved. I actually believe that my oscar can distinguish individuals, i.e. he knows me and knows my dad. Meaning he knows if its me or my dad in front of the tank. They aren't attacking you as much as expecting a lil treat from ya! They associate your silhouette with being fed, which leads to excited "tank thrusting" (couldn't think of any other way to describe it, lol!) Hell, my oscar starts doing it when he sees me go into my freezer in the kitchen 20 ft away LOL!

 

[Freeze_Dried_Bloodworm]

FSM, to answer your ? about agro cichlids "attacking" they're much larger owner, it's simple! IMO fish (cichlids in particular) are def NOT dumb as they are percieved. I actually believe that my oscar can distinguish individuals, i.e. he knows me and knows my dad. Meaning he knows if its me or my dad in front of the tank. They aren't attacking you as much as expecting a lil treat from ya! They associate your silhouette with being fed, which leads to excited "tank thrusting" (couldn't think of any other way to describe it, lol!) Hell, my oscar starts doing it when he sees me go into my freezer in the kitchen 20 ft away LOL!

my oscar would get excited whenever I'm around but doesn't care about anyone else.

 

[Footballref50]

Also, sidenote, if you did that with livebearers you might see a difference in breeding habits due to diet! My guppies will only breed if they are getting a "meaty" diet.

 

[Footballref50]

That's why i make anyone who comes over feed my oscar! Funny story just came to me actually! I have a quite "hefty" buddy we call "Wu" (but another nick name he has is "Baby-Buddha" get the picture?) Well the first time he approached the tank my oscar FREAKED!!!!!!!! Never saw something that big, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!