I'm worried--hawkfish is swimming around

[malibupam]

Help-my flame hawkfish is acting weird! This morning, he is swimming in the tank, up and down in the corners, and long distances against the glass. My tank is 10 weeks old and up until now, he has just skittled around on the rocks, only occasionally leaping up to get a bite of food. Is this normal hawkfish behavior that he is just now exhibiting, or is something wrong? My tank is pretty big, so he's really covering some distance when he swims, and I've never seen him do anything like this before.

 

[aarone]

what are your water parameters. He may be trying to swim to get more o2 in his gills. That is just a thought. What else is in the tank?
aaron

 

[drakken]

My longnose hawks does that when he's hungry (which is all the time). He swims in the front where he knows the food comes from. Maybe yours is doing the same thing??

 

[lesleybird]

If your fish is swimming around a lot he probably is not sick. Sick animals are not usually really active. He is probably feeling more at home and having fun. Maybe he just discovered the other fish like him in the glass! Lesley

 

[janelle]

my scooter dragonet does that when he's hungry (he chows down on formula one, which is terribly rare for a dragonet to eat dead food). at least, he 'looks' like he's hungry! maybe your hawk is just looking for food...

 

[squidd]

Lack of a "swim bladder" won't keep a fish from "swimming".
The 'swim bladder" is more a function of "buoyancy" and maintaining position in the tank (floating?)
As long as they're moving they can go up,down,back and forth,but when they stop forward movement...they "sink" and will perch on a rock...
Normal behavior...

 

[ryebread]

I am fairly sure that Lesleybird is right. Hawkfish are very territorial and they will gladly fight one of thier own kind. Once they see thier own reflection in the glass it's all over.....
At work we have anywhere from 3-5 Flame Hawks in stock at any given time and most of them will exhibit this behavior in our tanks........they will go along the front glass only though because our tanks are painted on the back and sides........no reflection, no racing back and fourth.
Just another interesting thing our little fish buddies do.

 

[dugan]

That's why my tanks no longer have emergency exits...
Katie

 

[pinanomanda]

cute comic waterfaller ( 8