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Hello, my paradise gourami has been acting strange recently, and its gills are flaring up and its tail is becoming flared and such. I have removed any real competition from the 20gal, and it has lead me to wonder if the reflection of the glass of itself is starting to arouse it? Can anyone give me more info on why he is constantly flaring on/off?

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-----> View My Dragons <-----

Its very possible. Fish are like most other animals in that they dont possess transpositional self awareness. Only chimps, parrots and man can, as far as is known recognise themselves in a mirror. Most other animals assume its another animal. To your paradise fish that means your male is seeing another male, in exactly the same size and condition as he is -and that means a fight!

Its a catch 22 situation, he on sight of the "other" fish, puffs himself up, and the reflection does exactly the same, and consequently since "neither party " ever gives up the display, it can go on for hours, even days!

More aggressive specimens will try to kill the glass,others will stay puffed up, and others just give up the display as hopeless. Im not sure which is most stupid, staying puffed up all day or being intimidated into surrender by your own reflection. Now thats lacking confidance! Seriously though, if he doesnt stop be might get exhausted , and not pay enough attention to his other needs, like feeding for example.

The only thing you can do is avoid the reflection by blocking it off with plants or remove the reflection by having the other side of it brighter than the inside, so there no perceptible reflection. Some people paint their glass or put heavily patterned backing on it that breaks up outlines to prevent such things from happening.

As long as he isnt going completely insane for hours on end , its not a worry. Its the "budgie" principle, and ive seen dozens of completely psychotic budgies because people put mirrors in with them!

And so with fish too, the clever/stupid balance is restored From one conversation where SAE's are really clever and social, to a conversation about how thick paradise fish are. This is why I love fishkeeping

Well, its been going on for days on end, with nothing stopping him, except the occasional nip from the shark, or feeding. The bad part is, he is doing the dumb fighting in front of the front glass. Thats my show tank too(i dont have much choice do I? ). What else can i do?

-----EEK! Its getting worse! He is puffing up more often now! What to do?!?!?!?!? Is this behaivor stressing though?

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Maybe you could distract him with a female? It can be risky as paradise fish sometimes kill females, but if you have a few real feathery leaved plants in there , with a female in there too he might back off on the posturing and concentrate on something a bit more productive, like nesting. Might be worth a shot. This will be tiring for him too, but at least he wont be battering his face in on the glass.If youre lucky you might get several dozen other idiots that bash their faces on glass to sell at the lfs .

Hi,
Try shifting the physical position of the aquarium light.
Perhaps shifting it from the front to the middle or to
the back of the tank will change the behavior.

This behavior is also why there should always be a dark
piece of construction paper under a QT tank. Fish swimming
along the tank see their reflection in the glass bottom
and panic because there is another fish(s) under them.
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Well, the good news is its doin better, but the bad news is that i think "its" actually a girl.......

I dont want to spend more just to risk it later on.......

Its not getting tired though, and is now starting to go and rest elsewhere. Im just dissappointed that i have only a stantard light. I need to get a new light strip(anyone know where?)

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hey goby fan if you are looking for a strip light you could go on ebay and find them or go to thatpetplace.com they have strip lights for cheap. generally you will have to pick which bulb and purchase seperately... but for a 20 gal tank it shouldnt be too much. if you go the ebay route go to the home and garden section, then a list will come up in the lowe portion of the right collumn. you'll see pets, go to the fish section and there will be a lighting section within

*click *flash *click "whered he go???"