Tail

This is a close-up of the tail fin and anal fin (with the red spots) of our male gold severum cichlid.

Fins of course help fish to swim. The muscles of the body actually do most of the work, but the fins are used for balance, direction and turning. Each fin on a fish is designed to perform a specific function: the movement of the tail fin is mainly used for propulsion, while the anal fin contributes to the stability in swimming.

Our male gold severum also uses his tail for slapping. When he feels threatened or if he want to impress the female he positions himself in front of the fish and slaps it round the face several times with its tail! :)