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hey guys,why is it,that when my blue acara and gt spawn,they will shoo off all other fish that even remotely come near there cave,but the bns just come in and out as they please,and the 2 fish let them,and just today ive even seen my new pleco in there checken it out,and he is also allowed to come and go,he is only small,but why are they allowed in, and nothing else,its like they dont mind the BNS coming in and cleaning up

Yeah thats a tricky one, cos my blue acaras let a young polypterus come and go as it pleases too. That example might be sheer cowardice on the acaras part though. Perhaps a BN looks formidable with those bristles, even though we know they are quite squishy. My plec without bristles certainly gets seen off.


Well some plecs do live in nature with blue acaras , perhaps they know he is only a minor threat at best to the eggs because of some genetic memory, a lot of animals who have never even seen animals in real life showed various reaction when shown representations of them, as if they knew what given shape had an associated behaviour. Theres loads of scientific animal behaviour study done on the subject. Everything from showing lizrds shadow profiles of hawks, to showing fish profiles of predatory fish.

In most cases the animal knows the shadow representation is something to be scared of without ever having seen a real one go to work.

Does the old noodle in doesnt it! Even scientists dont really know how it works.


I also think acaras are smart enough to work out things on a day by day basis too, and may be able to work out predatory intent in other fish. Some big predators have mastered the technique of "looking casual" that way they get right in on other fish. Im pretty certain some fish can read the mood of others.

I've seen this behavior with other fish and bottom feeders. I think it has something to do with them 'knowing' the bottom feeders job; that they're entering the territory for that purpose and not to attack eggs or fry.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

thanx guys,ive also seen this happen with my 2 jds,the cleaner just comes in and out as he pleases.out of all the chiclids ive had mixed with cleaners,the only fish that didnt like them,was a nasty firemouth,and even that wasnt heaps bad,just the odd territory check,and thats itits like the bottom feeders are not subject to the chiclids territory laws,dont yous think

Its something the fish can work out on an individual basis. People have lost plecs etc to bad tempered fish. I wish bottom feeders were always safe, it would make it very easy to control algae, but some fish are so territorial they will kill anything. I'll agree that various bottom feeders are less likely on average to be attacked than other midwater fish though.

yeah my FH is like that,he dont care what sort or cleaner it is,he would kill it.but i rekon most of the time the cleaners are overlooked by most other fish,i think they make a great addition to a tank,they never stop eating