One of my african cichlids dug a hole into the rocks and lays in it. Does anyone know why it did that?
2007-07-23 10:39:09 · 9 answers · asked by Dedrickd 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
That is what Cichlids do. They are notorious diggers. He felt insecure because there were not enough hiding spots before, so he made his own. Also, he could have been getting bullied by the other fish.
Edit: By rocks, I assumed you meant, rocks, not gravel. If is is in the gravel, it might be preparing to breed.
Nosoop4u
2007-07-23 10:44:56 · answer #1 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
African mbuna cichlids are very territorial I am assuming that is what type you have. In the wild, they live in and around large boulders, rocky outcrops and just rocks in general. Real estate is of prime value, and dominant males will claim a territory. They will defend this area viciously. You should make sure to re-arrange all your rocks when new cichlids are introduced to keep aggression down, and you might want to add more rocks. I have seen some cichlid tanks with rocks going all the way up the back. If aggression starts to get bad, overcrowding works very well for a peacefull mbuna tank. If you decide to overcrowd, you need to be very regular on your waterchanges.
2007-07-23 19:10:34 · answer #2 · answered by fivespeed302 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many types of "Africans" will dig a nest at spawning time. I'm assuming by 'rocks' you mean gravel?
Also, you should be providing lots of different sized rocks as hiding spots if your "Africans" are rock dwellers.
the reason I'm putting "Africans" in quotes is because they are a group of cichlids consisting of hundreds of species that can differ immensely in every possible way you can think of. For better advice it's a good idea to actually mention what species you have.
2007-07-23 17:47:18 · answer #3 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Many cichlid dig "nests" in the gravel and will defend that as their territory. This is what your fish is doing.
If there are females of the same species in the tank he will try to entice them into coming and spawning in his nest.
2007-07-23 22:54:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
many of them will bury themselves or rather build a pit.
some american cichlids, will do this(hornet tilipia) will do this to breed, and sit.
2007-07-23 17:52:35 · answer #5 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
That is what cichlids do.
2007-07-23 17:41:43 · answer #6 · answered by happybidz2003 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It might be ready for spawning
EB
2007-07-23 17:42:45 · answer #7 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
it is getting redy for spwaning.
2007-07-23 17:58:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
probably because it didnt want to see your face
2007-07-23 18:02:20 · answer #9 · answered by kevin A 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋