Darby's First Gravel Cleaning

[Phaedra]

Just had to share my first experience after cleaning Darby's gravel for the first time. I've done multiple water changes, but the other day was the first time I figured out a way to really get down into the gravel of his small tank.
Using my handy-dandy turkey baster (brand new of course), I was able to shove it into his gravel and suck up all sorts of stuff I didn't even know was there.

Darby's seen me clean his tank multiple times and is never stressed by it. On the contrary, he is a little bugger and gets in the way, watching everything I do while I'm trying to suck out the water and following the baster around the tank.

This time though, when I sucked up some gravel into the baster, the smaller stones would sort of rattle around and spin inside of the plastic. This sent Darby into his curious mode. He loved it! Every time I set the baster into the gravel, he would swim over and wait patiently nearby. As soon as I caught up some gravel, he would dart over, stick his little face against the plastic and watch it spin around, even "pecking" at it on occasion.

I was giggling like a maniac, even my honey came in to watch. I think I may have invented a new fishy toy.

Does anybody else's fish react like this to having their gravel cleaned?

 

[dmarie04]

Yep, I have a couple bettas that have fun when I gravel vac. They try to get to all the stuff getting sucked up the chute. Such silly little fishies

 

[Kairi]

Luna swims around in circles watching me, Icarus flares. They are hilarious.

 

[Phaedra]

I was so worried about doing it at first, but I was relieved when he acted so macho. I should have known a little gravel cleaning couldn't scare Darby.

 

[HODDY]

me and my firned was doing a water change on his tank and sucked up 3 neons and a bay mexican gobiao.My fighters follow the siphon lol.