Quite often when hobbyists are new to breeding aquarium fish, they can be startled when their fish begin behaving strangely.
They may notice them chasing each other wildly around the tank, or making strange shaking and quivering movements, and begin to wonder if they are ill.
No need for alarm, these are common behaviors of fish when beginning their quest to find a partner for breeding.
In fact fish will display some of their most fascinating and intriguing activities during courting rituals and the different mating fish behaviors are amazing to watch.
Chasing is a very characteristic sign of courting with many species.
This is normal and harmless and males will be on a mission chasing females around the tank continually.
This behavior is routine and to be expected particularly with the live-bearers and any fish that is not defensive of their territory when breeding.
Some species are quite "rough" and look rather aggressive when courting but it is normal behavior in many cichlid species including Oscars.
Occasionally things may get out of control and a fish may go "too far" and become a bully and injure or harm another, so it is best to be on the watch out for this and prepare to remove the culprit.
Another ritual you may observe is when fish perform mouth- fighting or lip-locking.
This is a common behavior of cichlids and "kissing gourami".
While it looks very friendly and amorous to us, it is actually not an affectionate act.
The species use this as a test of their likely partner's strength and resolve or if carried out between males it may be about their claim to territory or it could be a quarrel over a female.
Other interesting and entertaining behavior is when males display and posture to females.
They quiver their fins, move sideways and perhaps slap their tails or body, making quite amusing "dance" movements.
Don't be alarmed when you see this behavior, they are just "fish in love".
If both sexes are present in a tank and the environmental conditions are suitable then many species will have a go at breeding with no assistance from the aquarist at all, because of their extremely powerful inborn instinct to reproduce, as with most living things.
However, certain species need exactly the right conditions before they are comfortable enough to reproduce.
Breeding aquarium fish and being able to observe the many fascinating mating behaviors and courtship rituals makes this an extremely rewarding and satisfying hobby.