My ryukin is trailing the other smaller one repeatedly. He'll stop occassionaly. He doesn't seem to be pursuing the other one intensely, but often enough for me to notice how much he's doing it. I just got them today.
He doesn't seem to be nipping at him, but I don't know how else to describe it other than he's 'sniffing' the other fish's anus. That's what it looks like. Is this bullying, is he just establishing a pecking order, or is this signs of breeding behavior?
What are the signs of an aggressive fish and bullying incase the behavior becomes escalated? Thanks :)
2007-02-17 01:26:32 · 5 answers · asked by Mizzy 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
It's one of two things:
1) Normal breeding behavior. The male will chase the females all over the thank. Their color intensifies. They eventually hide in some plants and gyrate from side to side for the female to lay eggs and the male to fertilize them.
OR
2) Your fish is sick. Sometimes the healthy fish will pick on/chase/bully/bump sick fish. This happened to me once and I thought it was mating time. Come to find out, they "bullying" fish knew well before I did that my one fish was ill. The sometimes pick on the weak.
2007-02-17 06:40:10 · answer #1 · answered by YSIC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Goldfish are smart enough to learn tricks, but they aren't a fish that interacts with another. They have no social system. Goldfish are not capable of true aggression because aggression has intent and is a social interaction.
If neither fish is showing breeding tubercles, its unlikely they are showing breeding behavior. Its more likely that your smaller fish is sick and the bigger one is just picking at an easy meal. You just bought them, so you really should have them in quarentine. Who knows what diseases the fish are harboring.
2007-02-17 10:55:41 · answer #2 · answered by bzzflygirl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heya, i really wouldnt worry, i posted a comment EXACTLY the same as this yesterday as i baught knew goldfish two, lol GO US lol Mine have stopped now but the bigger one was doin it for about a day and a half, but today he has stopped, I felt that the other goldfish didnt like it as he was swimming away, but i think it was just minor bully'ing or maybe playing u never know, Its stopped now so dont worry im sure it wil stop :D
2007-02-17 10:05:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the one chasing is a male -- the other one could be a male or female. its just a goldfish thing. look for nipped fins as a sign someone isn't playing fair. if the smaller one gets sick you might have to move him because the bigger one could pick on him more when he is sick.
2007-02-17 12:13:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry! It's breeding behaviour for Goldfish.
2007-02-17 09:55:10 · answer #5 · answered by Ellan M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋