Have decided that my cockatiel is jealous of my fish...

[jaylach]

Usually when I cover the bird cage and turn off the light my bird is silent through the night. I also turn off my aquarium light at the same time. A while back I noticed that sometimes the bird would squawk for 20-30 minutes at times when I covered and turned off lights.

I did an experiment over three weeks and it was pretty conclusive. If I turn off the tank light before covering the bird cage the bird is silent. If I cover the bird cage before turning off the tank light the bird will squawk.

Even though the bird seems to like the tank and will even perch near it watching the fish, as can be seen in my profile pic, he considers himself the dominant and wants the fish light turned off first. For three weeks I alternated which got shut down first and it is apparent that he only goes vocally nuts if I cover the cage before killing the tank light. I really think that he considers himself boss critter and gets upset if I cover him before killing the tank light.

Even though the above is apparently the case does anyone have any opinions?

 

[Sgooosh]

Usually when I cover the bird cage and turn off the light my bird is silent through the night. I also turn off my aquarium light at the same time. A while back I noticed that sometimes the bird would squawk for 20-30 minutes at times when I covered and turned off lights.

I did an experiment over three weeks and it was pretty conclusive. If I turn off the tank light before covering the bird cage the bird is silent. If I cover the bird cage before turning off the tank light the bird will squawk.

Even though the bird seems to like the tank and will even perch near it watching the fish, as can be seen in my profile pic, he considers himself the dominant and wants the fish light turned off first. For three weeks I alternated which got shut down first and it is apparent that he only goes vocally nuts if I cover the cage before killing the tank light. I really think that he considers himself boss critter and gets upset if I cover him before killing the tank light.

Even though the above is apparently the case does anyone have any opinions?

that is such an interesting behavior!
i have heard nothing like it before, can he see the tank from his cage or sleeping thing?

 

[jaylach]

that is such an interesting behavior!
i have heard nothing like it before, can he see the tank from his cage or sleeping thing?

Oh, yes. The tank is on the left side of my couch as I sit. The bird cage is directly to the right of my couch. There is very much direct line of sight.

Cockatiels are a sort of weird bird. For instance, in almost all cases, they need to be covered at night or they will have what is termed as 'night frights' which boils down to a human nightmare. If not covered they will actually, often, flop around the bottom of the cage like they are having an epileptic seizure. They can actually break wing bones and do other damage to themselves if this is allowed.

 

[BleuTheBetta]

That’s crazy! To the first thing you said, I guess he just wants to be the man of the house, or perhaps wants to see that you take care of the fish so that he doesn’t have to worry about them?

 

[jaylach]

That’s crazy! To the first thing you said, I guess he just wants to be the man of the house, or perhaps wants to see that you take care of the fish so that he doesn’t have to worry about them?

Who knows what goes through a bird's mind. One thing I do know is that many types of birds are MUCH more intelligent than they are given credit. Starlings and ravens are a good example of this. As to an example of a starling I rescued a baby when I was a kid and raised by feeding hard boiled egg yokes mixed with water and fed through an eye dropper. The beastie died through this but when we were asleep a gas leak developed. The thing knew there was an issue and set up a major noise which allowed us to wake and to get out of the house. If not for that bird I would not be here to post this. Crazy but very smart bird yet a total thief as it constantly stole shiny jewelry stuff from my older sister's dresser; yes it was often allowed to be free in the house as is my cockatiel. It got old enough to set free and I had gotten it to fly so time to set free. I put the cage outside with the door open and it took off like a bat out of Hades. Something like a half hour later I went out to bring in the cage and the danged bird was back inside. It just didn't want to leave as we had become its flock. Sigh, if only we could form the same kind of relationship between different types of people this woud be a MUCH better world in which to live...

Personally I think that it is a dominance thing. Shoot, as far as he is concerned, I'm even subordinate. He is just an odd critter which can be expected when one takes in a rescue beastie. And, yes, even though not acquired through a shelter or the like I consider him a rescue. I don't really now but think that the fish may have become his flock.

 

[seangee]

Do you usually watch the tank at about lights out time. He may think they are getting attention. My cats will lie quietly all night (or chase each other around) but the second I stroke the dog or perch in front of the tank they are at my feet demanding attention.

 

[jaylach]

Do you usually watch the tank at about lights out time. He may think they are getting attention. My cats will lie quietly all night (or chase each other around) but the second I stroke the dog or perch in front of the tank they are at my feet demanding attention.

Possibly but I don't really have any specific routine...