AboutRon Coleman Expertise I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Organizations belong to American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc
Publications Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Expert: Ron Coleman Date: 6/7/2008 Subject: Green terror suicide
Question Hello, you give some great answers. I have had 55g tank since Thanksgiving. I Have 6 Dempsies, 1 managuense(Mick Jagger),a pike cichlid, and a pleco. They are growing bigger so I'm preparing another 60 gal tank. I have goldfish and guppies in the other tank. I put my green terror in the new tank because he didn't seem to eat for a month but looked healthy. Two days later he committed suicide by jumping out. and my wifes dog ate him. The levels in the new tank were not high yet. Why would he kill himself?
Answer Hi Mark,
Sadly fish will jump if given the opportunity. The remarkable thing is how small a hole they can fit through. I lost an 8 inch black belt just the other day when he found a little hole and "went over the wall". Your best protection is a well-fitting lid or cover.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
