"Kissing" Fish

[MAsharkDiver]

These fish, looks like Bluestriped Grunts, are participating in a typical "turf war" or dominance dance. The battle usually last for quite some time, up to 10 or 12 minutes sometimes. The fish will swim along side one another, then abruptly turn, charge at each other with their mouthes open - as in the photograph - until one gets exhausted and is the "loser". Usually seen with groupers and sea basses.

Pete
Underwater Education & Training Center
of New England
www.underwatereducation.org

 

[jbilicska]

I'm sorry. What I meant to say was my wife saw a picture very similar to that one.
Glad I could help I was curious myself . I've tried many times to get that picture but the fish would never cooperate. Amazon usually has those books by Paul Humann on sale. Good luck
Joe B

 

[AdTravels]

Great Pic...

What they are up to is termed as 'Gaping' and, as Mr X said it is a territorial or mate dispute. I watched two Sharp Nose puffers at it yesterday. Well Cool.

 

[archman]

As far as I know, this sort of behaviour has not been well studied in this species. Like somebody else said, bluestriped grunts aren't territorial, but form daytime sleeping aggregations. I see all sorts of grunt species doing this silly mouth gaping, but not once have I observed a pair fighting. Gaping may be the entirety of their dominance ritual, if that is in fact what it is.