My super shy Vieja Argentea

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trueblue82

trueblue82

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 20, 2017
18
13
3
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Singapore
Hi guys,

ever since i surfed upon a picture of an adult argentea which looks very beautiful, i wanted to get one myself.

Ive bought one about 1 year ago at about 3.5 inches and it has since grown to about 7inches+.

Number one problem with it is that it is a really picky eater!
It will eat the hikari green pellets for 2 or 3 days and then it will stop eating it. I am extremely frustrated by this as the pellets will just disintergrate in the aquarium and i have to clean up the tank.
After 2-3 days, it will eat it again.

Number 2 problem, it is easily spooked.
It will hide in the artificial plants i placed inside. Somtimes i wonder am i keeping a pet fish or just an empty aquarium.

It really looks fantastic, but i am slowly losing my patience.

Any argentea owners encounter the same thing? sigh.
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trueblue82 said:
Hi guys,

ever since i surfed upon a picture of an adult argentea which looks very beautiful, i wanted to get one myself.

Ive bought one about 1 year ago at about 3.5 inches and it has since grown to about 7inches+.

Number one problem with it is that it is a really picky eater!
It will eat the hikari green pellets for 2 or 3 days and then it will stop eating it. I am extremely frustrated by this as the pellets will just disintergrate in the aquarium and i have to clean up the tank.
After 2-3 days, it will eat it again.

Number 2 problem, it is easily spooked.
It will hide in the artificial plants i placed inside. Somtimes i wonder am i keeping a pet fish or just an empty aquarium.

It really looks fantastic, but i am slowly losing my patience.

Any argentea owners encounter the same thing? sigh.
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I am thinking the same thing that was wrong with my synspillium. You going to need some tank mates that will be interactive with him/her
 
A bigger tank could help the guy come out of his shell. I have an 8" in a 75 gallon and he's also very shy, planning on getting him a 180 sometime this year.
 
kewpiefishypewpie said:
A bigger tank could help the guy come out of his shell. I have an 8" in a 75 gallon and he's also very shy, planning on getting him a 180 sometime this year.
Click to expand...

Sad thing is, i live in an apartment building and this is the maximum space i am afford for a tank.
A bigger tank is always better of course. :)
 
Your tank is very open, and although you have some plants, it is still a very sparse tank with little cover..
Most new world cichlids don't live in open water areas, they instinctually live in areas with lots of cover, against river banks with overhanging vegetation, branches and logs to hide under and among. M argentea are not as "domesticated" as oscars, and retain the natural instincts in aquariums, unless provided lots of cover, or lots of un-paramoid dither fish to help them gage threats.
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the shot above is from the Mendahuanca river in Colombia.
When I went in the open areas, without cover, there was not a cichlid, or any fish to be seen anywhere, they would be too exposed, and easy prey for fish eaters like eagles, and other birds.
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I still have a few more pieces of driftwood lying around.
I guess i will work on getting them submerged again.

And maybe get a school of tetras too.
 
Had a similar problem with my zonatus, shoaling fish helped alot, I used swordtails, over head cover also helped alot I use some large plastic plants
 
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