Why do they do this?

melissa3

melissa3

AC Members
Mar 28, 2007
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Western MA
Every now and then I notice my swordtail swimming up and down vigorously in one corner of the tank. She doesn't do this all the time, just every once in awhile and I can't pinpoint the cause. Thinking it was the water, I did a water change and she stopped for awhile, but then went back to it after things settled down.



Also, I've seen some new fish do this after I've introduced them to my tank. Perhaps they weren't completely acclimated before I put them in?


Does anyone know why fish do this?


Melissa
 
I think you may be right, but we will need your water readings (Include temp and pH also).

When you say "swims up and down", do you mean she is pressing her nose to the tank-glass and swimming up and down that? Or she is free-swimming in open water nose up/tail down (or vise versa) and exhibiting this behavior?

You also mention that this occurs in new fish after introducing them - Does this behavior stop and only the one swordtail continues? Or or do they all do this for a while and then stop?

You mentioned acclimation - How do you acclimate?

Honestly, I think you are on the right track, but we will need more info to help varify.

Does anyone know why fish do this?
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This is generally a sign of stress, but this can be caused from something as simple as not providing enough cover for them to feel safe, jumpers do this (and Swordtails are know to be good jumpers!), pH swings or pH too high, illness, etc., etc......
 
Hmm, let me think.....When she does it, she doesn't press her nose on the glass, but she stays in one corner and goes from the top to bottom, over and over again.She is the only one in the tank that does this. My clown loach did it once, but he was fine after a water change (it had been awhile :()

As far as water parameters I don't have exact readings right now since I'm stuck at work :rolleyes: But in that tank (29gal), the pH is usually at 7.0, the temp is about 75 - 77 and I've never had any extreme readings as far as nitrites, ammonia, etc.

I just bought 3 tetras and a dwarf puffer and they were put in a different tank from the swordtail (planted 10gal). When I put them in my tank, 1 tetra and the dwarf puffer were doing the "up and down" thing. (When I acclimate, I float the bags on the side of the tank for at least an hour and add a small amount of tank water about every 10-15 min. Should I wait longer??) Again, I apologize, I have no readings for that tank either, but will post them as soon as I do.

I just hate to see my fish do that. I hate feeling like I'm hurting them.:sad::(
 
probably just boredom. . . . when you do a water change the fish is distracted and then afterwards has to explore the tank to see if their home has changed. unless the fish is breathing hard or has other physical signs of stress (clamped fins, pale color) i wouldn't worry about it too much.
 
I have the same problem with my pearl danio's every time I change the water for about 15 mins after the change they are all very excited, and swim with there noses against the glass up and down, after 15 mins they seem to go back to normal. My readings are

Ammonia -0
Nitrite -0
Nitrate -5
ph -7.2
temp -77-79
 
Well, I wouldn't be too concerned either.

I don't suspect any illness, but I would seem to think that this is either related to changes in the water during changes (temp, etc.), or a lack of comfort associated with a feeling of safety (i.e. insufficient cover, or is the tank in a high traffic area?), or a natural behavior of this individual's fish's personality.

Just my 2 cents ;)
 
sounds dumb, but i think sometimes fish see their reflection. they are trying to get at the other fish they see. they go bizerk until they get bored and forget and move on. could be as simple as that perhaps. just a thought. :p:
 
I have a wee rusty cichlid who swims constantly, and will swim up and down the glass on one side for protracted periods. Water is 0 Amm, 0 Nitrite, <10Nitrate, he's not being bullied and I have a ton of rock for cover. No physical signs of stress.

I have concluded that he is a mentallist who is fascinated with his own ability to swim.
 
I found this info about dwarf puffers from "BADMAN'S TROPICAL FISH"-

"Another important purpose for the plants is to give the puffers an interesting habitat. If the puffers are bored, they will do a lot of swimming up and down the glass."

According to the excerpt, my puffer is bored (?) How can that be? I just put him in my tank last night :huh: :confused:
 
Coler said:
I have a wee rusty cichlid who swims constantly, and will swim up and down the glass on one side for protracted periods. Water is 0 Amm, 0 Nitrite, <10Nitrate, he's not being bullied and I have a ton of rock for cover. No physical signs of stress.

I have concluded that he is a mentallist who is fascinated with his own ability to swim.
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I have the same thing with my 3 red tail tin-foil barbs. I have came to the same conclusion.
 
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