Friendly Columbian Shark!

DizTheFreak · Post by **DizTheFreak** » 08 Jan 2006, 23:20

Just thought I would share this story, as I was really excited about this event this morning:
I was doing a water change in my 10 gallon, when my Columbian Shark, Mau, came up to my finger and nipped at it for food! Surprised about this, I immediately grabbed some flakes and put them on my finger, and offered them to him, and he ate them off my finger! Then, I stuck all my fingers in the tank, and Mau began swimming through my fingers, as if to let me pet him! Is this normal?!? I had just fed him, so it wasn't due to lack of food!
Also, he swims upside down at the top of the water sometimes, like an upside down cat would... is this something a cloumbian shark would normally do?

Post by **Silurus** » 09 Jan 2006, 00:01

Also, he swims upside down at the top of the water sometimes, like an upside down cat would... is this something a cloumbian shark would normally do?

Have you been feeding the fish flakes a lot? If so, the fish may have learned that the best way to get at the flakes is to swim upside down.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 09 Jan 2006, 12:35

I agree with Silurus. I've seen my Hypostomus sp. swim upside down in an effort to get flake food as well..

--
Mats

Owch · Post by **Owch** » 09 Jan 2006, 14:19

I have a Discus tank, and all of them let me give them a tickle. They also suck at my fingers and swim in and out of my fingers. Whether its feeding time or not.

It like having a dog....... in a tank

Phathead6669 · Post by **Phathead6669** » 09 Jan 2006, 16:51

My buddies large ID Shark(16inch or so) will put his mouth over the tip of a turkey baster and eat all the food in the baster. My ID shark(10inchs) will let me pet him a bit aslong as something doesn't freak him out first.

The flake food might be whats helping him be friendlier. My mollys nibble on my fingers all the time.

pictus_man_77 · Post by **pictus_man_77** » 09 Jan 2006, 21:21

my danios try to tear my fingers off!!!
and my angels, they bite the very middle of your fingers, and also the bubbles on the palm of your hand

B-2 · Post by **B-2** » 10 Jan 2006, 01:57

My grandma has a BN that comes up against the front aquarium glass and waits for my grandma to "pet" it through the glass. He will turn around every few seconds so my grandma can "pet" his other side. However, only my grandma (and sometimes I) can do this as he is too shy to come to others. He usually won't come if someone else is in the room.

Waldo · Post by **Waldo** » 10 Jan 2006, 03:54

I disagree. The columbian shark came from a south american coast. when it transported up here it was used to swimming at what we percieve as upside down. It is just returning to it's normal positioning. Ok sorry I did that mostly for myself.
I've seen a lot of bottom feeders do this including cories, plecos, and catfish. I take it usually as a sign that they are being underfed on the bottom level of your tank or are competing with other fish in your tank and are finding the best way to adapt.