Keyhole Acting Weird

[ChilliPepper]

My male Keyhole has been acting weirdly lately. He is one minute swimming about fine, the next he has stress lines on and hiding in the coconut shell. Then he'll be out swimming again. This all started when they were at my OH's folk's house which has wooden flooring throughout, and we think the fish were scared by vibrations/doors closing etc. He got worse once the larger cichlids were moved, but I know they are a shy fish anyway. He has got better since I added some Rainbows and Apistos, but still does this odd behaviour.

Now he is in the process of moving the substrate in the centre of the tank, creating a hole. It's like he is digging a nest. I know he is male as he has really long flowing fins. What is he doing? Does he want a female? How could I guarantee a female for him as they are quite hard to sex when small.

 

[snowflake311]

My male Keyhole has been acting weirdly lately. He is one minute swimming about fine, the next he has stress lines on and hiding in the coconut shell. Then he'll be out swimming again. This all started when they were at my OH's folk's house which has wooden flooring throughout, and we think the fish were scared by vibrations/doors closing etc. He got worse once the larger cichlids were moved, but I know they are a shy fish anyway. He has got better since I added some Rainbows and Apistos, but still does this odd behaviour.

Now he is in the process of moving the substrate in the centre of the tank, creating a hole. It's like he is digging a nest. I know he is male as he has really long flowing fins. What is he doing? Does he want a female? How could I guarantee a female for him as they are quite hard to sex when small.

My keyhole would get weird too. he would dug pits then he would sit in this one spot but my bubbleing ship and watch the bubbles and if any fish came near he would chace them away from his spot. Then he would swim around and a be fine and a week back to his little place. He sounds fine they get into moods he might want to spawn. I think that was my keyhole problem he was older.

 

[ChilliPepper]

I got my Keyhole in October '08, so he could possibly be 2 years old now. Certainly at sexual maturity. It does seem as if he's wanting to get it on

If I got a a female, the largest I can find, I wonder if that will make him happier?

 

[snowflake311]

I never got tried to find a mate for mine. I put a female blue acara in the tank with him and he flirted with her. Till she became a B**** and beat him up.

My male did fine with out a mate he just acted funny.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Here's the wally, himself: