Can a fish be 'different'?

How do I address this without offending anybody...

I have this cichlid (Orange Chromide) who will only swim in the corners of the tank and sometimes (like this morning) swim in the front. (s)he doesn't socialize with the other fish, chase them or be any type of territorial. It reminds me of Dory from finding nemo.

I have never seen this fish do anything other than bang its head on the corners of the tank (its def not scratching), get so close to the side of the tank it can't move its other fin and sort of swims in circles or just floats back and forth. I've never seen it get territorial with the black Convict or the electric yellow cichlid(we got the electric yellow and the orange chromide together). We added two new fish (auratus golden mbuna and AceI Yellow tail) a few days ago and after rearranging everything and everybody chasing each other around establishing territory, this one just floated all by itself in the corner.

Its the most puzzling yet funniest thing I have ever seen. Is it possible this fish is a little mentally handicapped?

 

No idea about fish but I know there's a tiger with downs syndrome.

 

I suppose certain things like ammonia exposure or oxygen deprivation could impact the brain and motor skills, but I don't think fish are handicapped at birth, no. I've never heard of that.

 

No idea about fish but I know there's a tiger with downs syndrome.

Justin Verlander.

 

Na I was talking about a real tiger

 

I don't know what might up with your fish,sorry.

 

He is not different wats wrong is your stocking. You have fish that should be together and that are more aggressive that your orange chromide. You have mbunas that shouldn't be mixed together, convicts that shouldn't be mixed with mbunas and the chromide that should really be in a community tank.

 

He is not different wats wrong is your stocking. You have fish that should be together and that are more aggressive that your orange chromide. You have mbunas that shouldn't be mixed together, convicts that shouldn't be mixed with mbunas and the chromide that should really be in a community tank.

they all get along great; I mean really great. No chasing, no fin nipping. That's the only one who hangs out by himself and does nothing. I do rearrange the rocks often... maybe that helps?

The Convict and the electric yellow actually are buddies. They swim together and do everything together. I don't see them separated often.

 

they all get along great; I mean really great. No chasing, no fin nipping. That's the only one who hangs out by himself and does nothing. I do rearrange the rocks often... maybe that helps?

The Convict and the electric yellow actually are buddies. They swim together and do everything together. I don't see them separated often.

That's what they make you think. Once there full grown or want start breeding your going to have big mess. I recommend making it an all mbuna tank. How big is the tank? And if you did get an aurutus cichlids there one of most aggressive mbunas out there. I will rehome it.

 

It is a 29 gallon, we are upgrading to 55 or better when my bf gets back from his deployment.

petsmart had the aurutus cichlids under "community" tank and moderate aggression.

He actually is much less aggressive than the convict.. he has his little area he hangs out in and the rest of the fish leave him alone for the most part. he'll chase them out of his 'area' but that's about it