Am I the dominant female?

[SDguy]

So I was checking out my tank the other day, really looking closely...face right up to the glass. Well, my female ocellaris began doing that jerking/seizure dance right in my face, just like the male did/occasionally still does, to her. Do they make that same movement to show aggression? When I stick my hand in the tank, she goes in with her mouth, no jerking dance. So is she showing aggression or submission to my big ol' fat face Any ideas?

Some background. The pair is 3 years together. Always have gotten along, sleep in the same anemone, but have never bred. Once showed nest cleaning behavior, but that's it. Here's a pic:

 

[dantodd]

Beautiful fish.

I doubt she looks at you as dominant I would guess she was showing you how to properly submit to her. My female clarkii will occasionally shimmy for her mate but when she see's my big fat mug in the window she usually just swims over and looks me in the eye. One day, after a pretty big cleaning job she started trying to lock mouths with me right through the glass, you could hear her jaw popping against the glass.

Yesterday while I was trying to clean the tank she would not stop biting me, my arm, my hand, my fingers, anything she could get her mouth on.

This hyper aggressive behavior has only been in the last month or so since she's been spawning.

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7082405#post7082405 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dantodd
Beautiful fish.

I doubt she looks at you as dominant I would guess she was showing you how to properly submit to her. My female clarkii will occasionally shimmy for her mate but when she see's my big fat mug in the window she usually just swims over and looks me in the eye. One day, after a pretty big cleaning job she started trying to lock mouths with me right through the glass, you could hear her jaw popping against the glass.

Yesterday while I was trying to clean the tank she would not stop biting me, my arm, my hand, my fingers, anything she could get her mouth on.

This hyper aggressive behavior has only been in the last month or so since she's been spawning.

Thanks for the compliment.

Yeah, I'm used to her looking me in the eye as well, assuming either aggression or hunger, but the shimmy was new to me.

By the way, did you end up getting those chrys.?

 

[dantodd]

actually, that is one of the reasons I was cleaning the tank. After all the aggression she showed across the 72g tank I'll have to pass until I can find a place to house a new pair.

 

[SDguy]

Hehe..too bad I'm in SoCal..they'd be great for my new 115g

 

[dantodd]

hmmm.....

Something might be worked out. I can take the decent camera there and get some pictures if you'd like.

I'm heading to Laguna Beach the week leading up to Easter if you want to meet me there and pick them up.

 

[SDguy]

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