Strange swordtail behaviour...

[Marcus Fox]

I posted earlier about my swordtails, and am asking for an opinion about
their behaviour. One of the males mostly hangs out almost motionless under
the filter (Eheim 2208) and one of the females hangs out about two inches
below. They occasionally come out, and always without fail when I walk past
the tank.

The other male and female swim about all over the tank, the male is often
swimming close behind the female, sometimes he chases her, but the strange
thing is he does it swimming backwards, and very rapidly. It's quite cool to
watch, actually.

Is this normal? Are they mating? Do they do it when the lights are out? I
don't think they like it as they swim around crazily as I watch them by the
light of the TV when the light is out.

Marcus

Marcus

[Charles]

On Mon, 18 Aug 2003 01:39:04 +0100, "Marcus Fox"
> wrote:

>I posted earlier about my swordtails, and am asking for an opinion about
>their behaviour. One of the males mostly hangs out almost motionless under
>the filter (Eheim 2208) and one of the females hangs out about two inches
>below. They occasionally come out, and always without fail when I walk past
>the tank.
>
>The other male and female swim about all over the tank, the male is often
>swimming close behind the female, sometimes he chases her, but the strange
>thing is he does it swimming backwards, and very rapidly. It's quite cool to
>watch, actually.
>
>Is this normal? Are they mating? Do they do it when the lights are out? I
>don't think they like it as they swim around crazily as I watch them by the
>light of the TV when the light is out.
>
>Marcus
>
>Marcus
>

Pretty much normal.

The swimming backwards is part of the male's display, he's trying to
get the female excited.

The pair that are hiding most of the time are not the dominant ones,
they are bullied into submission. When you get more fish they will
mix it up and not be so afraid. They come out when you pass by,
because that's when the food comes.


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

[NetMax]

Possibilities midposted...

"Marcus Fox" > wrote in
message ...
> I posted earlier about my swordtails, and am asking for an opinion
about
> their behaviour. One of the males mostly hangs out almost motionless
under
> the filter (Eheim 2208) and one of the females hangs out about two
inches
> below. They occasionally come out, and always without fail when I walk
past
> the tank.

Sounds like this male has taken a submissive posture to the tank's alpha
male. The female below him is also lower in stature to the boss female
wandering around the tank. When you walk by, they drop their roles and
everyone goes for the possibility of food, which distracts the alpha fish
from normally chasing after them.

> The other male and female swim about all over the tank, the male is
often
> swimming close behind the female, sometimes he chases her, but the
strange
> thing is he does it swimming backwards, and very rapidly. It's quite
cool to
> watch, actually.

He is a show off, which sometimes is what it takes to get the female's
attention (or at least slow her down, as females are generally larger
then the males).

> Is this normal? Are they mating? Do they do it when the lights are out?
I
> don't think they like it as they swim around crazily as I watch them by
the
> light of the TV when the light is out.

Normal: yes. Mating: basically. When the lights are out (completely
dark) they are sleeping. When there is some light (ie: TV) then it's
business as usual. hth

NetMax

> Marcus
>
> Marcus
>
>