Why is my blackmoor fish pushing his head into the 'bum' of my 2 new pearlscale orandas? Are they fighting?

Question

I have a 30L BiOrb tank and have had a Blackmoor living on his/her (don't know its sex) for about two weeks. Tried to by some more blackmoors this weekend but couldn't find any nice ones so brought two Pearlscale Oranda's instead. Shop assistant said they'd be fine with a Blackmoor.

However, the Blackmoor keeps pushing his head into the 'bottoms' of the pearlscales. It's like he's chasing them??

Very confusing - any ideas?

Could they be fighting?

thanks, paul

Answer 1

HELLO FIRST OF ALL BLACKMOORS ARE THE GENTLE GIANTS OF THE UNDER WORLD THEY ARE THE MOST PEACEFULL FISH THERE IS . I GUARANTEE THEY ARE NOT FIGHTING BLACKMOORS AND ORANDAS GET ON VERY VERY WELL TOGETHER THEY ARE OF SIMMILAR FAMILLY ITS A BIT LIKE A DOG SNIFFING A NOTHER DOG HES PROB JUST CHECKING OUT WHAT SEX THE OTHER TWO ARE.
PS PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY BUT PLEASE BE AWARE BLACK MOORS AND ORANDAS GROW VERY QUICKLY THE THREE OF THEM DEPENDING ON SIZE WILL NEED RE HOUSING SHORTLY SAY A FEW MONTHS THE BI ORBS ARENT REALLY DESIGNED TO HOLD THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR DANIOS AND WHITE CLOUD MINNOWS FOR EXAMPLE BUT IF THEY ARE JUST BABIES DONT WORRY THEY WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO GROW BEFORE RE HOUSING.

PS WHEN YOUR ORANDAS OR YOUR BLACK MOOR START EATING GRAVEL DONT BE ALARMED THEY THINK IT IS FOOD THEY PUT IT IN THERE MOUTHS THEN SPIT THEM OUT.

AND PS WITH IT BEING A SMALL TANK MAKE SURE YOU DO WATER TEST EVERY WEEK JUST TO MAKE SURE THE CHEMISTRY IS FINE

HOPE THIS HELPS

ENJOY

Answer 2

i dont know too much about the mating. but the black moors are no gentle giants. ive had 2 and they had to live by themselves each time. they killed and started to death any of my other goldies. they are territorial too. you may just need to watch them. it may be mating behavior it may be fighting. just keep an eye on it. if its fighting you should remove the black moor to its own tank and maybe reintroduce it later. my fish store told me to do that b.c they thought it was a territorial thing. i like the moors a lot tho.

Answer 3

This actually sounds more like mating behavior. Here's how to tell if your moor is a male: http://www.bristol-aquarists.org.uk/goldfish/info/sexing-fs.htm

Despite the differences in the varieties, these are all goldfish and can mate.

Answer 4

the moor is a male and he is establishing his dominance -- it isn't really fighting -- hes just letting them know hes boss if the pearlscales are male and if they are female he is assuring them he is a stud.