CBB Fighting with his reflection

reeflover · Dec 28, 2014

I have a CBB who will not stop fighting with his reflection, or at least that's what I think he's doing. He does it all day long and will occasionally dart off and swim around a bit but then he's right back at it. He just circles the powerhead and swim up and down right along the glass. I have had him for about a year and is eating mysis like crazy. He isn't cruising the rocks as much as he was when I first got him which I don't understand why. He does it at night when the moonlights are on however.

He also seems pretty skittish when he is in this "mode" (fighting with himself) but then when he isn't doing it he is fine. He will even swim right up to my hand when it's in the tank. I have a 75 gallon with a lot of open swimming room including lots of places to hide. He isn't being picked on as he is the larges fish by far and is in a tank of all docile fish.

Any ideas why he is doing this?

Thanks in advance!

Eckolancer · Dec 28, 2014

Mine does that but he is always hungry

Coralsdaily · Dec 28, 2014

As long as the fish eats and doesn't do harm to himself, no need to worry. All my fish bump into the glass all day long, especially when they see me so they can get my attention for some treat

SantaMonicaHelp · Dec 30, 2014

maybe the moonlights affecting your butterfly? like the ware wolfs ? JK

maroun.c · Dec 31, 2014

Try turning on the lights in the room to see if he stops as this decreases the reflection in the glass...
many of my fish still do the same after years in the tank especially after I clean the glass.

Shep · Dec 31, 2014

My green mandarin does this but instead of fighting his refection he does the dance for it lol I kind of feel bad for him, he is looking for love in all the wrong places. But yea, as long as your CBB is still eating and not hurting himself you should be ok.

3Twinklets · Dec 31, 2014

^^^^ Agree.
Mine is the friendliest fish in my tank. He will swim right into my hand. They generally are a very active fish. Feeding can be difficult because they tend to want to pick and feed slower. So I feed mine after the lights go out and most other fish are down for the night.

SantaMonicaHelp · Dec 31, 2014

Shep said:
My green mandarin does this but instead of fighting his refection he does the dance for it lol I kind of feel bad for him, he is looking for love in all the wrong places.

How lovely? I bet your mandarin is a real gentleman

scardall · Jan 12, 2015

I had a freshwater fish(Silver Dollar) that would smack into the glass so hard that he eventually had a flatted nose, per-say.

mcbridepcm · Jan 13, 2015

Many of my fish in the past, and still occasionally act up when they see their reflection. It probably just one of those things that result from having a wild animal held in a captive environment. That's just a guess, I don't think anyone qualifies as a fish sociologist.

zoacrazy42 · Jan 13, 2015

same with me

Also have an green mandarin that dances and charges the glass. Funny to read this article I was turning the lights on and off to see if it got rid of the reflection .lol