Ghosting?

[jwyfk]

I read a few posts where Marcos described, and even posted a video of one of his Yoyo botia's behavior where he used the term "ghosting." I searched online last night, but couldn't find any information about this activity. A few of my smaller Clown Loaches do this to my largest clown all the time. He (or she) is several times larger, but doesn't nip back at the little pests. Instead, he just desparately tries to swim away, as the smaller loach looks like it's trying to go after the gill area. Is there another term used, other than ghosting? If someone has any links to information about this they can share, I'd appreciate it!

[Gary Stanton]

Ghosting is color changing. Getting way lighter.

[mistergreen]

shadowing might be another term.

[Martin Thoene]

Ghosting is color changing. Getting way lighter.

That's "Graying Out" Gary.

I like the term "Shadowing" over "Ghosting" as I feel it better describes the activity.

jwyfk, over the years Loaches Online members have come up with terms describing Loach behaviour that eventually become accepted parlance. Certain terms may be common to other specialist interests within the fishkeeping hobby, but other terms seem to be Loach-specific.

Like any hobby, we have our own "language" where certain terms are used that may not be understood by those unfamiliar with this specific group of fish.

Here's the current Loaches Online Glossary of Terms:

http://www.loaches.com/working-glossary

Martin.

[Emma Turner]

Shadowing, joining up, parallel swimming.

Emm

[Gary Stanton]

Thanks Martin.

[jwyfk]

Thank you for the help, everyone. Shadowing is exactly the behavior I've been witnessing:

Shadowing - A behaviour noted in many Botiine species, particularly clown loaches. One or more of the smaller, subordinate fish swim as closely as possible to a larger more dominant fish, often appearing as if they are ‘joined up’ side-by-side at the gills. This phenomenon is also referred to as ‘parallel swimming’ and can become quite fast and furious with the larger fish swimming this way and that, trying to ‘lose’ the hangers-on. However speedily the dominant fish swims, and however quickly it is able to make a sudden change in direction, the smaller fish seem glued to the bigger one. This type of shadowing behaviour has also been observed as a precursor to spawning in Pangio species.

Great link, Martin. This is precisely what's going on. Very interesting!