The weird things fish do!

[nuckfluckchuckbuck]

Over the last few days, I have witnessed almost every member of my 26 gallon tank try to swim against the flow and up the filter outlet(!)

At first, it was my Crowntail Betta who tried.... I was watching the tank and I just watched in horror as he charged the whole way up the filter outlet on my Juwel tank

I honestly thought he was a goner, but sure enough, out he popped without a single bit of damage to himself.... I watched in amazement for the next half an hour as he continued the same routine...

Next, it was my red tailed black shark. Just like the Betta, he charged up the filter until you couldn't see him, and just popped back out again like nothing had happened.

Whilst sat posting here tonight, I've just seen a total of 9 little cory's all swimming against the flow at the same time and trying to get up the filter outlet... about 3 have succeeded so far...

So - has anyone else witnessed this "fake suicide" behaviour in the same manner - up the filter outlet!?

Any other weird habits that a lot of your tank friends seem to do?

 

[nc_nutcase]

I think swimming upstream is a pretty normal thing for fiash to do. When my Oscars/pacus were much smaller they would all congrigate at one end of the tank and take turns racing toward the filter outlet. It was much to strong for them to get into, as most couldn't even get to it. But they loved trying...

 

[littlefishie]

At my LFS there are some 'suicidal' fish.. they use sponge filters in some of the tanks, and the giant bubble output thing.. well.. the fish enjoy swimming into that tube and getting themselves stuck in it.

One of them did it so often that he's been nicknamed 'the suicide fish'.

 

[hellohefalump]

my (very small) bristlenoses go up my filter outlet regularly! The first time I saw one do it I thought he was going to die, but then he came out unharmed and went back in a while later...

 

[Ferris]

The Mbuna in my Malawi tank quite often queue up to swim against the strong powerhead flow. It is so funny watching them literally waiting their turn.

 

[nuckfluckchuckbuck]

*tee hee*

it's so funny to watch - i'm glad it's so common.... knowing that lots of other fishies are making their owners giggle too

I still can't believe my Crowntail Betta was unharmed though... he's so delicate... I can't look when he does it

 

[nuckfluckchuckbuck]

Oh dear...... I spoke too soon....

This morning my filter had stopped.... I checked right inside and opened up the motor and my tiniest little Cory Sterbae had swum up there and stopped the motor....

I'm so gutted - he was beautiful.... his side fins had just started to get their orange tint... he was barely bigger than half an inch

R.I.P. Cory "Knievel" Sterbae.... he was living the dream... then the fish hit the fan

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

R.I.P...poor little guy! Sorry for your loss.

 

[eudielynn]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Jen]

My barbs and platties seem to enjoy swimming in the current... as close as they can get, and then stopping and 'slidding' down the current. They do it for a good chunk of every day.

Fortunately, the cover over my tank is so close to my filter overflow that I don't think my fish could get in there... and even if they did, the filter sleeve would be in the way.

 

[gadazobe]

The best thing is to stop a disaster before it happens - cover the outlet with a fine mesh - a piece of nylon or something like that.

 

[tanganyika1001]

thats a shame buddy, corys are prety fish. my danios used to do that all the time but neva made it to the impeller. i think they just did it to get the thrill of swimming with the flow afterwards. they used to fly out twice as fast as they ever could swim naturally! and all this in a meter long tank! its not just the fish though, i love the way brine shrimp swim just above the bottom round and round in backflips, to be promptly devoured. im probably the only person who giggles at that though... B)

 

[nuckfluckchuckbuck]

Thanks for your kind words everyone. Knievel Cory has moved on to a better place, so it's OK

I still wouldn't deny them the flow of water.... as you all say - it's obvious they love it..... they surf the currents that it throws out in turns.... it's rather amusing to watch

Thanks for the idea of a fine mesh too... I've been trying to think of a few things actually - I'm sure I'll cxome up with something. I want to make sure I take away as little flow as possible whilst making sure they can't get right in again.

To be fair - I think it was because of this particular Cory's size.... He was tiny enough to fit round the outlet "bend", unlike all the other fish who currently attempt it.... I've been watching my tiny panda Cory's getting closer and closer so I'm gonna make something quick!!

 

[Katchan]

Mr personality, my Vt betta has found a new game this morning, One of my kidlets has chucked an empty clear fish feed container in the top of my tank and the betta's been swimming into it floating round in the outlet current for a while, gets board swims out for awhile then swims back in again.

Katchan

 

[dancinns]

My Bumblebee Goby likes to climb up and down the side of the tank. I was watching him for a bit last night and he was doing laps along the back wall of the tank...just kept on going in circles, over and over and over.

I'm also amused that he's supposed to be a bottom dweller, yet his favorite spot to sit is on top of the suction cup holding my heater in place...and this is about an inch from the surface of the water.