Glass Surfing

[Bronco765]

Anyone know what causes a fish to glass surf and is there a way to calm them down? It’s a Vagabond Butterfly. It’s in with other Butterflies and no signs of aggression.

 

[Mickle]

I personally think its a sign a fish is not happy and wants more space, like they have no interest in their current environment and want to leave

 

[Bronco765]

I personally think its a sign a fish is not happy and wants more space, like they have no interest in their current environment and want to leave

It’s in a 125 with 5 other butterflies. I guess it’s like anything else some just adapt to captive life and some don’t.

 

[exnisstech]

I have a CBB in observation that started this a couple if weeks ago. I blacked out the back and ends with a trash bag and it stopped. I assume it was seeing it's reflection or possibly something outside the tank. It had been in for a couple of months when it started. I took the covering off the ends a few days ago and the fish is back to behaving normally. Maybe try covering the area it's surfing for a few days to see if it helps?

 

[Baldyreef]

i came from the freshwater side of the hobby and typically it glass surfing is associated with stress, could there be something stressing it out? maybe a bully?

 

[BryanM]

Blacking out the front/sides is a solid troubleshooting step.

Is the fish new to the tank?

What's the aquascape like, does everyone have hiding places/caves/etc they can retreat to?

 

[Bronco765]

Blacking out the front/sides is a solid troubleshooting step.

Is the fish new to the tank?

What's the aquascape like, does everyone have hiding places/caves/etc they can retreat to?

Yeah the fish has only been in there a few days. It eats fine. It was added with 3 other Butterflies at the same time. It didn’t surf in quarantine. The other 3 don’t surf. Plenty of rock and hiding places. The back of the tank is black so I just put black towels on the sides. I’ll see how that works. Thanks!

 

[Baldyreef]

good luck!

 

[Bronco765]

i came from the freshwater side of the hobby and typically it glass surfing is associated with stress, could there be something stressing it out? maybe a bully?

It’s in there with butterflies, a Firefish and a Royal Gramma.

 

[BryanM]

Hopefully it is just getting used to its new home.

 

[Baldyreef]

Hopefully it is just getting used to its new home.

yeah it doesn't seem to be anything aggression related probably just adjusting