Can anyone explain this behavior?

Recently, my Royal Gramma has started doing a nose dive at the substrate, then turns to his side and almost bounces off the substrate. Will do it several times, then won't for hours, then does it again, then stops and so on. Anyone know what he might be doing? I don't think he's eating anything - always seems to do it in the same place.

 

Is there anything that may be stressing him? Water quality or something like that.

 

Does it bounce or scrape itself on the substrate? Does it look like its trying to scratch an itch?

 

My water parameters are normal and have been for several weeks. Nothing has changed in the tank for weeks either. He "burrowed" a cave for himself a couple weeks back (in that he would scoop substrate from under a rock into his mouth and spit it out) and he does this in around the same area. Doesn't look like he's scraping at all - in fact I can't completely tell if he even hits the bottom or not - if he does, it's very lightly as nothing is stirred up. I don't see any "damage" on him (scales beat up or the like), and he eats fine, swims fine, so I'm not altogether concerned, just wondering what it is and what it means.

 

Possibly Swim Bladder Disease

Description: A fish's swim bladder is a pouch of air in its body that helps it to swim and float upright as well as providing general balance in the water. Bacterial infections, parasites, and constipation can cause this pouch to become deformed or inflamed affecting the fish's ability to control itself.

Symptoms: Fish may appear off balance or clumsy. It may appear the fish is doing tricks as it will roll around in the tank and have trouble controlling itself. Fish may float or swim upside down.

Treatment: There are commercial products which can be found at fish stores that claim to aid swim bladder infections. Often, feeding your fish a diet of peas for a few days can also help as they act as a laxative, clearing up constipation.

From http://fishiezoo.com/articles/diseases.html

..................................................................................... John

 

John, that doesn't really sound like it as he swims fine otherwise and this seems like a very intentional thing he's doing and he's always does it in the same place.

 

So, the gramma is still exhibiting this behavior and has now started to swim in between the sponge on my power head (for the anemone) and the glass and sit there vertical. Could these behaviors be related?

 

Are you able to see the lateral line eroding. Could it possibly be lateral line disease?

 

What's the lateral line? What's lateral line disease?

 

maybe this web site will help. If not just search for it.
http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/html/hlle.html