What's This Fish Behavior?

[Zindebaad]

I have 2 Black Axil Chromis (Chromis atripectoralis). They exhibit a kissing behavior much like Kissing Gouramis (Helostoma temmincki). What's going on?

 

[ihavecrabs]

They met on Match.

Seriously though, no clue! following along.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

How long have you had them? Sounds like they are locking jaws, which is a fighting behavior. Hopefully it is just to establish dominance over one another and then it stops, but having only two chromis usually doesn't end well. Have one or have several to limit any one being picked on to death.

Black axil chromis are much nicer looking than standard blue-green chromis IMO, especially under blue light.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Fighting for dominance.

 

[Shrimpinator123]

Agree with the others, jaw locking. It is a commonly seen behavior with aggressive fish like cichlids.

 

[Zindebaad]

Thanks. You're right about the 2 Chromis atripectoralis establishing dominance over one another. It happens only infrequently. Otherwise the 2 fish get along famously.

 

[curiouser]

Black axil chromis are much nicer looking than standard blue-green chromis IMO, especially under blue light

Agree. I have one. Color appears to change depending on lighting, position in tank (background).

 

[saltyhog]

Does it look anything like this when they do it? This was two male yellow head wrasse in a dominance battle that I filmed in Belize.