Strange Behaviour Of New Fish

[lisa2701]

Hi guys and girls,

I've had my 5 male endlers a couple of days now and they are settling in well, eating, gaining confidence, exploring their tank and so on. They are the only fish in the tank currently. However, last night and this morning I have noticed two of them acting strange. Last night they done what looked like a dance - they were head to tail parallel with each other and swam in a circle or two (almost as if squaring up to each other) and then the smaller of the two proceeded to follow/chase and pester the bigger one for ages. If it wasn't for the fact that they are both male I'd have thought the wee one was flirting with the big one. So last night I laughed it off and went off to bed. This morning the wee one is STILL pestering the big one, who looks to be getting annoyed with it and trying to get away but the smaller one keeps up with him pestering him, and he finally appeared to turn and nip the wee one which lead to what (from a beginners eyes) looked like a fight. i just walked up and put my hand at the tank where they were as they and they both darted off in separate directions but the wee one just won't let up.

Is this fighting? is it normal for Endlers and are they likely to damage each other? Like i said its the smaller of two instigating all the problems by the looks of it, he's literally only about half the size of the bigger one.

 

[Essjay]

Male endlers, like most male livebearers, exist only to eat and breed. If there are no females of the right species in the tank, they will try with other fish including other males. Male endlers dislplay to females, and each other in the absence of femaes, by spreading out their fins, curling their bodies and sort of jerking in front of the other fish.
What you are seeing is quite normal for endler males, though I suppose it's possible you could have a rogue fish, they do exist from time to time. So long as they don't cause physical damage just leave them.
I have male endlers in my 125 litre and females in my 50 litre (I don't want too many fry, and the betta in the 50 will keep the population down). My males behave the way you describe.

Edit - I should say mine are endler-guppies, they are hybrids.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Yep, my guppies do the same thing. They will also often pester the larger bodied males... my theory being they are somehow more "female" looking. I've noticed my smaller males never get pestered by other males.

 

[lisa2701]

I'm glad to hear this behaviour is normal. these are the first fish i've owned since your typical childhood goldfish so I was a little worried. The behaviour appears to have calmed down again for now . It is only male endler guppies in the tank so no female to display to nor do I intend to provide any females . I believe mines are hybirds too.