Wrasse Attacking Reflection, Help!

SharkTreats · 11-13-2006, 02:16 PM

My 8-line wrasse has been sparring with his reflection in the glass for the last couple days. I have had him for about three weeks now. He will spread his fins and then swim head on into the glass.

I am worried that he is going to hurt himself! Is there anything I can do to discourage this behaviour? Does this mean that my wrasse is a male?

JY13131 · 11-13-2006, 02:18 PM

I feel so sorry for them when they do stupid stuff like that!

avalanche wolf · 11-13-2006, 02:26 PM

Oh come on , where is the video of this !? lol

Could always put him in a quarantine for a day without the lights on. Padded cell effect.

SharkTreats · 11-13-2006, 02:29 PM

I don't think there is any way I could catch this guy even if I wanted to! Unless I got a fish trap...he is so quick!

Wiskey · 11-13-2006, 02:37 PM

Personally I would let him figure it out. I don't think the fish can see their refletion from inside because of the angle they are looking at the glass, he is probably trying to swim around the living room.

Whiskey

SharkTreats · 11-13-2006, 02:43 PM

I just wish he'd quit it, I feel really bad when he hits the glass, I can even hear it! lol I guess he'll learn eventually...

leveldrummer · 11-13-2006, 04:08 PM

i think whiskey is right, you cant see the reflection either unless your looking from corner to corner. with bright lights they might see a little something. who knows... fish are dumb though arent they?

LISound · 11-13-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

i think whiskey is right, you cant see the reflection either unless your looking from corner to corner. with bright lights they might see a little something. who knows... fish are dumb though arent they?

You would be surprised what their little brains can do...they know when we are going to feed...some are even smart enough to position themselves knowing where food will settle, etc...

But they can see well enough to think that there is another of the same fish in the tank with them and are displaying themselves as such.

Let the glass frost over with a little algae for a few days to calm the fish down...then clean it and see what it does.
After a while it will get used to this and should stop.

My damsels would display their dorsal fins and flash their colors when I first would clean the algae off the glass.

Can't you see your reflections in your cleaned glass aquariums?

reefermike1 · 11-13-2006, 04:26 PM

my background is a mirror and my percula wont go more than a couple inches from it(except for feeding time)... think he thinks thats his girlfriend or something!!! and my lion always trys to eat food out of the reflection first before he turns around and realises that its the other way!!

partobe · 11-13-2006, 05:26 PM

I had a yellow tang doing the same thing. I started feeding him Nori and after a week or so he stopped. I'm not sure if the nore helped or if he just figured it out on his own. Give it a little time.

jenajet · 11-13-2006, 07:25 PM

Well Deb never figured out she didnt have a sister Flo. Maybe put more rock or coral near the glass if it is in a particular location so he cant run into it. Best I can come up with.

SharkTreats · 11-13-2006, 07:50 PM

Thanks for the advice all, hope this guy stops, lol. I'll let some algae grow and see if that helps. Maybe if he gets a sore nose he'll give up or think his reflection won.

Wiskey · 11-13-2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Maybe if he gets a sore nose he'll give up or think his reflection won.

Whiskey