[Belinda]

I have had my Goos for 1 year now and just noticed an unusual behavior in the dominant male just this week...
I have heard of it in other species but did not expect it of Goos.

I was watching them while feeding to see if the little ones were getting anything..
There was the usual feeding frenzy ..all coming out and the tussles to take the best bit...
The usual if you can get it first it might be yours ,and if you can steal it it might be yours behavior pattern ..

The Alpha male came out and took the piece that he wanted ...Then he did something odd ..
He proceeded to take that morsel and place it behind him at the entrance to his cave.. He then went again to take 2 more morsels..
One he put at the cave entrance and one he ate ..
He stayed outside the entrance to his cave and confront and display to any other Goo that even faced his direction..

He was hoarding food!!!

He did eat those other pieces after everybody settled down again.
So he remembered that the food was there.

I see it as part of instinctual behavior .. to establish and hold onto dominance and to feed any female or fry in his cave...

As a result of this observation I will change the way I feed them slightly different...
I will initially drop some food in front of his cave...and then I will be sure to drop some more food in hidden away places out of his field of vision ..
That way the smaller sub dominant Goos will have a fair chance of getting some food.
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Why are my feet wet?

[Stan]

That stinker! I haven't had this happen with mine yet. Some of the fish I used to have were very rambunctious at feeding so the goos were a tad more timid and just grabbed what they could. Now that I got rid of a few fish I'll have to see what happens.

[Belinda]

L.O.L. I agree he is a bossy boy ..but only with the other Goos.

He knows his place when it comes to the Bows in the tank ..
and that is ..Just watch out for the zippy ones... they might sideswipe you in their rush..

I thought it was worthwhile to mention this ..It has altered my feeding routine to ensure All of the Goos get fed..
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Why are my feet wet?

[rainbowbratt]

Sounds like its a good idea for you to mix up the feeding pattern a bit. I've never seen this, but sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing your little quirky fish behaviors.

~Lori

[Stan]

I've noticed after moving the goos coconut huts during water changes they will have a fuzzy pellet of shrimp in storage. I don't see it often but every once in a while I find one.