i have maybe a stupid question...lol but was wondering why my oscar and jack dempsey go up and down the sides of the their tanks (they in separate tank for now) looking at their refection.They seem like the chasing them selves. My feeder fish dont do it. just those two do. Thanks for the info

I wouldnt worry unless they are flashing/rubbing themselves on the sides and on any decor My O's argue with thier own reflections, usually sharron who has a hissy fit at the crner of the tank.....perhaps she can see the tv?!

Yes, I've seen my fish do this. Sometimes if you look inside the aquarium, it looks like the sides are mirrored and you can actually see the reflection of the fish. However, I think this is just the water refraction creating this effect , and the fact that the side of the tank is at a right angle to where you are looking. I don't actually think the fish will see a perfect reflection like they are looking in the mirror.

I can see a reflection of myself when I look in the tank so maybe the fish are seeing some kind of reflection that is confusing them

they not rubbin they have there face towards the glass looking at themselves and racing up and down the tank looking at themselves just wondering why and is it normal..its seems only my oscar and jack do this just wondering if this is a terratory thing cause they are more aggressive then other fish.

id say normal, like i said, mine do it all the time! try putting something in for them to play with

what can i put in for him to play with lol a ball jk. my o plays with me but i gave up now lol i have fake plant i put it in he take it out of gravel so now dont bother after few time of trying put it back lol. so i took the fake plants out not sure if he playing with me or tell me he dont want fake plants in his home lol.

www.oscarfishlover.com/helpful-articles/toys-for-oscars

thanks

Bio-Stratus wrote:

was told by the breeders in my place that fishes (not only oscars) do
the up and down movement because they see another horizon and want to
explore it. the movements seem trying to find the way which is practically
nil.... to test this theory, when your fishes are doing this, try to put
something on that panel to block the view and the reflection, if they stop,
then the theory is proven to be true.

i have done that and found out its true. my fishes stop the up/down movements