So every since Piglet took his leap from the tank causing his untimely death, Red has been acting weird in the tank. At different times of the day and night, he will float on his side at the top of the tank. He is eating as normal. He is pooping normal. My tank levels are as they should be. He swims around the tank as normal, chasing the other Oscar. He has no battle scars, not bloated and all fins are working properly. There is no particular side that floats to the top of the tank. When you approach the tank, he swims right over to you. All the other fish are doing fine as well. Both Oscars spend a lot of time staring at the top of the tank, waiting for that food to drop in.

Is he floating on his side to sleep, stare at the top of the tank or is something wrong?

Thoughts?

Fish that are active by day will only go to sleep after you turn the lights out. They are not like dogs or cats that will have a little nap during the day. Sometimes O's will sit at funny positions in the tank, I don't think there's anything to worry about, that is just what they are like. Like you say, as long as everything checks out, I don't see any problems.

i know that goldfish and carp do lose their equilibrium when in the dark.
They will keep their bodies sideways in the current and look out of balance.
Whenever i turn the lights back on, the fish immediately do regain their equilibrium.
These fish do seem to keep their balance based on the light they get.
Don't tell me i'm the only one that ever noticed that!

My big red floats sideways at the top of the tank at night sometimes too, but mostly just hangs with his head upwards, just beside the outlet of the filter.

my lutino usually do that too... the first time that i saw it,
i thought i had lost him... but when i scoop him by hand, he splash
hard enough giving me a good shower while still in my office attire!


that was already past 6:00 PM

Noddy wrote:


He does it lights on or off... not picky. It is just weird that he started doing it after Piglets death. Never saw it before.. of course Piglet was always chasing him around so maybe that is why. Now the tank has good harmony.. no real fights.

Funny you should mention the outlet for the filter. He hates that thing. I think the outlet and him will forever be enemies. Red attacks it so much that once he actually put a "fight" mark near his mouth! After that he choose a different area of the pipe to attack but has never given up the attack!