banggai cardinal behavior

[reef tank 2.0]

I'm going to try to explain this the best I can, but I am not quite sure what's going on, if anything.

I have two Banggais that are coming down to their final week in the QT.
I just noticed the bigger of the two is pretty much acting like the others shadow. Every movement it makes, the bigger one does the same. It moves this way or that way, the bigger does the same. I never actually see the larger one make any kind of contact with the other, but he does charge slightly. Again no contact. I'm seeing no fin nipping either.

What would be the reason for this? Should I separate them with a tank divider? Is the larger trying to stress the other one out till it dies? Is this a mating behavior?

I did start out with three and i ended up losing the smallest one about a week, maybe two ago.

suggestions?

 

[snorvich]

Bonding -- sounds like a male and female

 

[reef tank 2.0]

but they have been together for a month now, and who knows how long before that. I'd kick his *** to the curb if I were HER. He's not impressing her

 

[reef tank 2.0]

Hopefully I don't find another dead one come morning.

Another thing. He is, what looks to be, trying to chase off the "other cardinals" that he sees in the reflection on the bottom of the tank of himself.......It's like he chases them with his nose to the ground.

 

[michellejy]

My cardinal pair always swam together like it was synchronized. It sounds like bonding to me too.

 

[snorvich]

Hopefully I don't find another dead one come morning.

Another??

 

[reef tank 2.0]

ya,i started with three, but the 3rd one was getting bullied, and died due to stress.