Why is this happening

[Seanny D.]

okay about two days ago i was watching my afra cobue tank and something wierd was going on. Every time my male would be approached by a female cobue he would roll on to his side, almost like he was scared. Why is this happening???

[why_spyder]

What were his fins doing while he was tilted to the side? Were they fanned out or being moved quickly?

[Seanny D.]

No they start to clamp he, normally he would try to spawn with them.

[why_spyder]

Any chance of you getting a picture or video of the behavior?

[Tankfan]

It almost sounds like a submissive reaction. Not sure why as the male would surely be dominant.

I noticed this same action with the smallest of my albino males. He tilted with his dorsal towards both the other males and females. He did this with the others not even showing any aggression towards him.

****When i watched this i thought to myself about what i read as far as the "cleaning stations" in the Lake...this was an action that even predatory fish used towards the "cleaners" to show they meant no harm.