Do Fish Mark Their Territories?

This has been going on for months. I made a bunch of threads on it and I'm not really asking for help on how to fix it because it doesn't seem to cause any problems. I just have one question. Do fish mark their territories by scratching against surfaces? I know that cichlids do it, but my rainbow shark, corydoras, and danios all do the same as well. It's not very often that I see them scratching, but I know that it isn't a health issue. No deaths have occurred and every fish is active and healthy. Thank you

 

I'm not too sure how fish mark their territory but it is a possibility

 

This has been going on for months. I made a bunch of threads on it and I'm not really asking for help on how to fix it because it doesn't seem to cause any problems. I just have one question. Do fish mark their territories by scratching against surfaces? I know that cichlids do it, but my rainbow shark, corydoras, and danios all do the same as well. It's not very often that I see them scratching, but I know that it isn't a health issue. No deaths have occurred and every fish is active and healthy. Thank you

I know the behavior you're talking about. I've always assumed it was because very small bits of debris get in their slime coating and that it was more of cleaning motion. I've even considered that there may be excessive spot of the slime coating that they can feel as they glide through the water. I never considered that fish marked their territory.

 

I know the behavior you're talking about. I've always assumed it was because very small bits of debris get in their slime coating and that it was more of cleaning motion. I've even considered that there may be excessive spot of the slime coating that they can feel as they glide through the water. I never considered that fish marked their territory.

I'm not too sure how fish mark their territory but it is a possibility

Thank you for the responses. I'll keep doing some more research on it.

 

I don't think they technically mark their territory, but they seem to make like invisible boundaries

 

I don't think they technically mark their territory, but they seem to make like invisible boundaries

Thank you

 

Thank you for the responses. I'll keep doing some more research on it.

I do know for a fact that the aggressive fish produce pheromones. There is even a water conditioner product called AmQuel that says on it's label that it detoxifies pheromones produced by aggressive fish. I imagine it's possible they could spread these pheromones on objects to mark their territories.

 

I do know for a fact that the aggressive fish produce pheromones. There is even a water conditioner product called AmQuel that says on it's label that it detoxifies pheromones produced by aggressive fish. I imagine it's possible they could spread these pheromones on objects to mark their territories.

I would definitely consider my albino rainbow shark to be aggressive. She scratches a lot more than the others.

 

I tried finding information about the production and usage of pheromones in fish and didn't find very much. You may have better luck. My angelfish tank has a dominant male that I'm sure excretes pheromones, but I don't notice him rubbing against objects. There are pheromones that cause different reactions such as spawning, and certainly aggression, so I wouldn't doubt that some speices mark their territories.

I would definitely consider my albino rainbow shark to be aggressive. She scratches a lot more than the others.

 

I tried finding information about the production and usage of pheromones in fish and didn't find very much. You may have better luck. My angelfish tank has a dominant male that I'm sure excretes pheromones, but I don't notice him rubbing against objects. There are pheromones that cause different reactions such as spawning, and certainly aggression, so I wouldn't doubt that some speices mark their territories.

All right, thank you! I’ll look into it.

 

I doubt fish do this by scratching (what do they leave behind to do so). Other thing is schoolingfish don't have territories. They migrate through river- and lakesystems.
So there is no need to make a territory !

 

I doubt fish do this by scratching (what do they leave behind to do so). Other thing is schoolingfish don't have territories. They migrate through river- and lakesystems.
So there is no need to make a territory !

I heard that they leave behind traces of their slime coat and some fallen scales.

 

mmm slimecoat is to protect them and.so are scales. Doesn't sounds logical to me to hurt yourself doing so.

I heard that they leave behind traces of their slime coat and some fallen scales.

 

I heard that they leave behind traces of their slime coat and some fallen scales.

This would probably be more of a research subject for search engines rather than an aquarium forum.

 

mmm slimecoat is to protect them and.so are scales. Doesn't sounds logical to me to hurt yourself doing so.

This would probably be more of a research subject for search engines rather than an aquarium forum.

Yeah, I agree with that. I'm just hoping to find some excuse for the scratching so I don't have to worry anymore.

 

Sometimes body flukes are extremely tiny and can take on the color of their hosts. Examine them very closely for tiny dots especially on their sides towards the taI section and around the gill area.

Yeah, I agree with that. I'm just hoping to find some excuse for the scratching so I don't have to worry anymore.

 

Sometimes body flukes are extremely tiny and can take on the color of their hosts. Examine them very closely for tiny dots especially on their sides towards the taI section and around the gill area.

All right, thank you. I'll check.

 

The reason for scratching is irritation of the skin. Usually from pollutants or parasites, it could also be something chemical in your tap water, like heavy metals. Fish do not scratch to mark territories. They might move objects or dig substrate, but scratching is not part of it.

So yes, you should be worried about the fish scratching. It is not normal behavior.

 

I think your question is quite legit.
Only doubt it when I think of it.

Something in the water (ammonia, chlorine etc) sounds more.plausible.

Yeah, I agree with that. I'm just hoping to find some excuse for the scratching so I don't have to worry anymore.

 

The reason for scratching is irritation of the skin. Usually from pollutants or parasites, it could also be something chemical in your tap water, like heavy metals. Fish do not scratch to mark territories. They might move objects or dig substrate, but scratching is not part of it.

So yes, you should be worried about the fish scratching. It is not normal behavior.

I think your question is quite legit.
Only doubt it when I think of it.

Something in the water (ammonia, chlorine etc) sounds more.plausible.

My tank is completely cycled. There's nothing in there to harm the fish. Nitrates are under 20 ppm, ammonia and nitrites are at 0 ppm, and any heavy metals I possibly have are detoxified by Seachem Prime. If it were a parasite, a lot of my fish would be dead by now, as this has been going on for almost a year. That's why I'm stumped at this point.

 

My tank is completely cycled. There's nothing in there to harm the fish. Nitrates are under 20 ppm, ammonia and nitrites are at 0 ppm, and any heavy metals I possibly have are detoxified by Seachem Prime. If it were a parasite, a lot of my fish would be dead by now, as this has been going on for almost a year. That's why I'm stumped at this point.

btw do you notice this behaviour at specific moments ? after waterchanges or feeding for instance? btw there are quite "harmless" parasites as well

 

btw do you notice this behaviour at specific moments ? after waterchanges or feeding for instance? btw there are quite "harmless" parasites as well

It's usually during feeding, but a lot of it is just random. Which parasites are harmless? Could some possibly cause scratching?

 

It's usually during feeding, but a lot of it is just random. Which parasites are harmless? Could some possibly cause scratching?

Several. You'd be surprised at how many fish live full, healthy lives with parasites.

 

Several. You'd be surprised at how many fish live full, healthy lives with parasites.

Wow, okay.. I'll look into that.

 

I did treat for parasites because of this a while back. I did one week of General Cure, one week of Prazipro, one week of Metro+ (orally fed with Seachem Focus), and a Methylene Blue bath for every fish. Nothing worked. Forgot to add this; sorry.

 

I wonder if urea ecretion while fed might have to do sonetging with it.

 

I wonder if urea ecretion while fed might have to do sonetging with it.

Maybe, but the majority of fish continue doing it long after feeding time.

 

And water is treated tap water ?

 

And water is treated tap water ?

Yes. I originally used hose water, but switched to the water from my sink just in case that was the problem. I put the sink water in a bin and treat it with Seachem Prime before putting it in the tank.