What's going on here??

[evojoey]

I just got some retic rays this week and put them in my Geo tank. All was well for a couple days. The rays are still doing great, but the normally peaceful geo's have gone berserk. They don't swim as a shoal anymore and the dominant female is "protecting" the rays. She chases all they other fish away from the rays. All three of the large female geo's take turns hovering over them and chasing other fish away.. I have noticed that the tubes have dropped on the three females and also on the small male. Could introducing rays to the tank stimulated a spawning trigger or something? Why have they become so aggressive? Any help is appreciated. Posted a couple pics to show the female hovering over the ray.

 

[Oddball]

The females are most likely protecting feeding areas. The geos are eartheaters and are laying claim to the opportunity the rays present in uncovering food they roil up from the substrate. This is all from a hypothesis raised back when I was in class.

 

[broken]

Its pretty cool that your rays have some bodyguards.

 

[DannyLee94]

Got to admit its a thought inspiring scenario

Danny

 

[Heavyarm7]

Rays, the Geo afrodisiac! Patent that!!

 

[evojoey]

The females are most likely protecting feeding areas. The geos are eartheaters and are laying claim to the opportunity the rays present in uncovering food they roil up from the substrate. This is all from a hypothesis raised back when I was in class.

That does make sense to me. Only thing is, the geo doesn't eat any of they worms that the ray is stirring up. When I feed them I use a big syringe and inject the worms under the sand. I do this so it's more natural for the rays and they seem to enjoy it.

Rays, the Geo afrodisiac! Patent that!!

Good idea. Now all I need to do is figure out how to bottle it.

Does anyone know why they would start showing their junk?

 

[JK47]

Joey, Oddball's suggestion actually makes a lot of sense. Have a look at "nuclear-follower association" in the below link. It lists certain species of geophagus, satanoperca, cichla and crenicichla as displaying this behavioral pattern. Very cool IMO.

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=2558

 

[evojoey]

Thanks for the link Justin. I'll have to read it when I get home, I can't access that site from work. It is a pretty cool thing going on. Just don't like the fact that the geos don't shoal anymore. Maybe once they get used to the rays being in the tank a little bit, things will return to normal.

 

[JK47]

Thanks for the link Justin. I'll have to read it when I get home, I can't access that site from work. It is a pretty cool thing going on. Just don't like the fact that the geos don't shoal anymore. Maybe once they get used to the rays being in the tank a little bit, things will return to normal.

They'll shoal again and in a pretty short amount of time (days) I bet you. Nice thing about cichlids is they always "re-establish" order once you change decor or add/remove fish so nothings usually a permanent situation.

 

[TheFishJunky]

They'll shoal again and in a pretty short amount of time (days) I bet you. Nice thing about cichlids is they always "re-establish" order once you change decor or add/remove fish so nothings usually a permanent situation.

I agree and I agree with oddball as well.It all makes sense to me but who knows-they're fish and we are human so what do we know?
On a serious note,the cupidos and brasiliensis all do hover over the rays and eat the worms when tossed up from the sand in my tank so I would say thats the case with your red heads also.In a few days I bet they start doing the same.Keep us updated Joey.