green sevrum

Question
i have a green sevrum about 6 ins long and it has just started swimming upside down and then back to normal please could you explain this an i have two golden sevrums an they keep locking there mouths together

Answer
Hi Peter,
 Hmmm... that doesn't sound good.  For a cichlid to swim upside down usually means that it has some sort of serious internal problem with its swim bladder.  This can often be the result of an attack by another fish.

The two that are lip locking are either fighting or courting -- the two look exactly the same.  Often times, fighting preceedes courting.  Keep an eye on them.  If it is courting, at some point they will suddenly stop courting and start making a nest. If it is just fighting, at one point, the one will win and start chasing the other incessantly.  At that point, you will need to do something or the loser could easily be injured or killed.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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