4. Formation
Formation can provide an insight into a fish's mindset at a particular moment in time. I suppose in a way it is a method fish can use to communicate with each other, and well, if we as hobbyists can recognise the signs, we can pick up on the communication too! Let me explain, with the use of a few examples.
(a) Clustering (tight)
I came down one morning to feed some Melanotaenia Picta that I was raising in a two foot tank. It was about 10.30 am, and it was a gorgeous day outside, so I thought I would open the curtains wide to let some of that light inside. Big deal, right? Well, when I looked in the tank all of a sudden the fish had adopted a very tight clustering formation, something akin to the way sardines go when predators are after them (see the video below). They had never really done this before so I was caught up with the novelty of the whole thing. At first I thought, "wow, that's pretty cool," I was too caught up in all the dazzling colours that I was seeing as the sunlight reflected off their scales. I didn't really understand what I was seeing. I just assumed this was shoaling behaviour. Thanks to some good guidance in an online forum, I came to understand that in reality, their movements were skittish and agitated, and scared. If you look closely at the video, you will see that they are huddled in the small piece of shade in the centre of the tank, the shade being provided by the window frame. The reality is that the change in the lighting of their environment was too sudden, it startled the little fish, and immediately they went into defensive mode. What I missed when I came into the dark room that morning was their initial formation whilst resting before they moved to the huddled formation. A number of things can make fish skittish, and an external shock (like going from dark to sunshine bright too quickly) will make fish skittish. Having the fish set up in an appropriate environment is in my humble experience one of the best ways to calm them down. The appropriate environment typically relates to lighting factors and the presence of suitable and sufficient cover for them to hide while they get over their panic moment. Sometimes it may be hard to put ones finger on exactly what is causing the issue, but a few telltale signs will undoubtedly let a diligent hobbyist know that something is wrong. A little trial and error is all that is required to put things right!
Formation can provide an insight into a fish's mindset at a particular moment in time. I suppose in a way it is a method fish can use to communicate with each other, and well, if we as hobbyists can recognise the signs, we can pick up on the communication too! Let me explain, with the use of a few examples.
(a) Clustering (tight)
I came down one morning to feed some Melanotaenia Picta that I was raising in a two foot tank. It was about 10.30 am, and it was a gorgeous day outside, so I thought I would open the curtains wide to let some of that light inside. Big deal, right? Well, when I looked in the tank all of a sudden the fish had adopted a very tight clustering formation, something akin to the way sardines go when predators are after them (see the video below). They had never really done this before so I was caught up with the novelty of the whole thing. At first I thought, "wow, that's pretty cool," I was too caught up in all the dazzling colours that I was seeing as the sunlight reflected off their scales. I didn't really understand what I was seeing. I just assumed this was shoaling behaviour. Thanks to some good guidance in an online forum, I came to understand that in reality, their movements were skittish and agitated, and scared. If you look closely at the video, you will see that they are huddled in the small piece of shade in the centre of the tank, the shade being provided by the window frame. The reality is that the change in the lighting of their environment was too sudden, it startled the little fish, and immediately they went into defensive mode. What I missed when I came into the dark room that morning was their initial formation whilst resting before they moved to the huddled formation. A number of things can make fish skittish, and an external shock (like going from dark to sunshine bright too quickly) will make fish skittish. Having the fish set up in an appropriate environment is in my humble experience one of the best ways to calm them down. The appropriate environment typically relates to lighting factors and the presence of suitable and sufficient cover for them to hide while they get over their panic moment. Sometimes it may be hard to put ones finger on exactly what is causing the issue, but a few telltale signs will undoubtedly let a diligent hobbyist know that something is wrong. A little trial and error is all that is required to put things right!
(b) Lone Fish - Illness Vs Dominance
Rainbowfish typically like to spend time with each other, they are social in their own fishy kind of way! They spend a lot of time in loose formations that keep them in close proximity to each other, sometimes near the top, sometimes in mid water, and sometimes closer to the substrate. This is normal behaviour. When they arn't resting, they are chasing each other, sparring, breeding, you name it, social behaviours. Every so often though you have one that splits from the shoal, but you can usually tell quite easily whether or not this behaviour is one of dominance or the result of illness. An ill fish will show the signs clearly such as listlessness, not eating, emaciation, fast breathing, the list goes on. A closer look at the fish can show tell tale signs of disease such as fungus, fin rot, ich, you name it. I find that it is very often uncharacteristic behaviour that lets me know something is wrong way before a fish shows any physical manifestation of disease or illness. A dominant fish, (and I have typically seen this with juveniles males) will try to hold a spot for himself in a tank. Unlike the ill fish, he will typically be very healthy looking, full of vitality and active. This can perhaps happen when other males do not feel they are able to challenge, and they become submissive to a dominant fish. Once another male feels he can challenge another such dominant fish, sparring takes place.
5. Powered Down
As I mentioned in the first part of this blog, Rainbowfish arn't on all the time, they don't show their fantastic colouration all the time, this is natural, so don't be alarmed. Quite often they will hang out in a 'powered down,' sometimes relatively dull mode while they recharge their batteries. I think that's because when they actually do power up to show off their colours, they expend a lot of energy. Don't forget that when they do show their colours, it is usually in displays for attracting females, or displays to intimidate other males. One can only assume that such things are bound to take their toll in terms of fatigue and the need for recuperation. Feeding them a good and varied diet is essential to encouraging breeding behaviour, and when you see breeding behaviour, you get to see their colours! It's a win win situation.
6. Stretch and a yawn...
Given the close relationship that we humans have with stretching, yawning and tiredness I am often tempted to think that after all the activity I observe in my fish tank, that sometimes a Rainbowfish needs nothing more than a well earned rest! I often see them stretching, tilting their heads up, flair out all their fins and opening their mouths wide. From what I've read though, this has a very purposeful function, and its about far more than being tired. As you know, fish breath through their gills, its an efficient system that absorbs the oxygen from the water. As part of this process, the fish actually strain the water over / through their gills, and as they do so, small particles are picked up along the way. The yawning forces water backwards over the gills, effectively flushing them of particles that have been picked up! Pretty cool eh?
Until next time! :)