Strange Bala behaviour

[andywg]

Over the last week I've noticed something strange with my Bala. He's in the community tank (until the 6 ft is set up and he receives some more of his kind) and appears to have taken a shine to the Honey Guaramis in the tank.

Whenever they swim from one end of the tank he will swim alongside them flicking their side with his tail. When they are swimming slower he constantly swims in front of them to make them have to turn a different direction.
Occasionaly he appears to bite them (though without any force, it's more of a suck) but they don't seem too bothered by that.

Has anyone else experienced this before and have any thoughts?

All I can think is that maybe he's bored or a randy teenager (though he must only be about 4-5 inches)

any views?

 

[Matty]

My balas swim in formation with each other and do a sort of crossover pattern as they do so. It kinda looks like a basketball drill or something...but that's just about all of the wierd behaviour that they do.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Well they are shaoing fish, perhaps he is just trying to shaol with your goruamis.

 

[digital_run]

As Cheese said they are a schooling fish...Do you have him single?...it's usually hard to tell because if he's by himself he will act strange...whereas if he was in a group with fellow bala's there probably wouldn't be any abnormal behavior....Just regualr Bala behavior. HIH a little!!

 

[andywg]

I thought it might be him trying to school since he is a very similar size now.

Unfortunately he is on his own for the very short term . The moment my large tank is drilled and I have my sumps I will be obtaining two friends for him.

Cheers for the heads up peeps.

Andy