Mark Stone
November 2nd 03, 10:38 PM
Large Cichlid keepers are too hard on themselves. They take everything
too seriously and read dire meanings into their fish's behaviour,
creating too much stress on themselves. For example, let's compare
Zebra Danios and Oscars:
When Danios chase each other around the tank, it's "play". When Oscars
do so it's "aggression".
When Danios relentlessly attack their bits of flake food, no one
notices. When Oscars do so, they are "big eaters".
When you can't find a Danio, it's no big deal; he's probably behind
something. When you can't find your Oscar, well, it's a problem.
When there's 40 Danios in a 20 USGal tank, it's called "active". When
there's 3 Oscars in a 55, it's "overcrowded".
When Danio's come to the surface at feeding time, it's "a natural
response to stimulation". When Oscars do so, we aquarists arrogantly
assume that they "recognize us".
When a Danio brushes up against your hand during tank cleaning time,
it's an "accident". When an Oscar does so, we think it's "affection".
When a Danio pokes his nose at a ping-pong ball we've put in the tank,
it's curiosity. When an Oscar does so, it's "intelligent play".
Danios do not lie down on their sides in the gravel until they pass
away. Oscars routinely do it for attention.
Danios are smart enough to hide from Oscars. Do Oscars hide from
Danios?!? Yes! Baby Oscars are scared of Zebrafish!! (but only
temporarily - - -)
From the West Texas Cichlid Think Tank (WTCTT) -- Mark
Mark Stone tractorlegs at msn dot kom
Does anyone want to start posting the NG FAQs?? I'm burnt out --
OSCAR Lovers! http://www.geocities.com/cichlidiot_2000/oscar.html
The ".Edu" meens i are smart.
too seriously and read dire meanings into their fish's behaviour,
creating too much stress on themselves. For example, let's compare
Zebra Danios and Oscars:
When Danios chase each other around the tank, it's "play". When Oscars
do so it's "aggression".
When Danios relentlessly attack their bits of flake food, no one
notices. When Oscars do so, they are "big eaters".
When you can't find a Danio, it's no big deal; he's probably behind
something. When you can't find your Oscar, well, it's a problem.
When there's 40 Danios in a 20 USGal tank, it's called "active". When
there's 3 Oscars in a 55, it's "overcrowded".
When Danio's come to the surface at feeding time, it's "a natural
response to stimulation". When Oscars do so, we aquarists arrogantly
assume that they "recognize us".
When a Danio brushes up against your hand during tank cleaning time,
it's an "accident". When an Oscar does so, we think it's "affection".
When a Danio pokes his nose at a ping-pong ball we've put in the tank,
it's curiosity. When an Oscar does so, it's "intelligent play".
Danios do not lie down on their sides in the gravel until they pass
away. Oscars routinely do it for attention.
Danios are smart enough to hide from Oscars. Do Oscars hide from
Danios?!? Yes! Baby Oscars are scared of Zebrafish!! (but only
temporarily - - -)
From the West Texas Cichlid Think Tank (WTCTT) -- Mark
Mark Stone tractorlegs at msn dot kom
Does anyone want to start posting the NG FAQs?? I'm burnt out --
OSCAR Lovers! http://www.geocities.com/cichlidiot_2000/oscar.html
The ".Edu" meens i are smart.