Red Devil ?

[saminorc]

Do fish yawn ? or Do Red Devils Yawn ?

My RD from time to time throughout the day opens his BIG mouth, usually
all the way open, sort of like the way we humans yawn, I know fish get tired
like the rest of us but is he yawning or possibly just stretching his BIG mouth
and jaw ?

Also, when we watch tv he sometimes comes out from behind his rock and
stares at us (sort of like hey look at me) sometimes for a few seconds
sometimes for longer maybe 2 -3 minutes, is it normal for Red Devils to stare
at there keepers ?

He seems to have exceptional vision too, I did not think it was possible for
fish to see say beyond 3 feet but we are at least 12 or more feet from the tank
when watching tv and I pretend to throw something at him and he shakes his head
or
flinches like he's anticipating an object coming towards him.

I know Rd's have strange behavior but I have never read of yawning, staring
or long range vision.

[Jim Brown]

saminorc > wrote in message
...
>
> Do fish yawn ? or Do Red Devils Yawn ?
>
> My RD from time to time throughout the day opens his BIG mouth, usually
> all the way open, sort of like the way we humans yawn, I know fish get
tired
> like the rest of us but is he yawning or possibly just stretching his BIG
mouth
> and jaw ?
>
> Also, when we watch tv he sometimes comes out from behind his rock and
> stares at us (sort of like hey look at me) sometimes for a few seconds
> sometimes for longer maybe 2 -3 minutes, is it normal for Red Devils to
stare
> at there keepers ?
>
> He seems to have exceptional vision too, I did not think it was possible
for
> fish to see say beyond 3 feet but we are at least 12 or more feet from the
tank
> when watching tv and I pretend to throw something at him and he shakes his
head
> or
> flinches like he's anticipating an object coming towards him.
>
> I know Rd's have strange behavior but I have never read of yawning,
staring
> or long range vision.
>

The yawning could be a boredom symptom, but more likely it is just
stretching the jaws in anticipation of hunting down a meal. (Evolutionary
adaptations are hard to lose).
Cichlids are territorial so it may well be watching for intruders. Again,
an evolutionary adaptation.
As for the sight, normally the range is restricted in an all water
environment. In your case, there are only mere inches of water, then many
feet of clear air to see through. It may or may not be able to discern
objects at 12 feet or more, but it could well see movement. That could be
interpreted by it as either an interloper in its territory, a potential
meal, or even something that could eat a red devil.
So, it looks like your RD is not exhibiting strange behaviour, just
completely normal behaviour.

Jim