Flowerhorn just sits in the corner of the tank

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Sehkmete

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jun 23, 2016
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So I moved my 4.5 inch SRD to my 75 gallon tank and since then he's been eating less and mostly hiding in the corners of the tank. Is the large size of the tank just spooking him? Would some breaking up the scape with some rocks help him feel more comfortable?

Thanks.
 
Sehkmete said:
So I moved my 4.5 inch SRD to my 75 gallon tank and since then he's been eating less and mostly hiding in the corners of the tank. Is the large size of the tank just spooking him? Would some breaking up the scape with some rocks help him feel more comfortable?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I heard that FH feels safer in a smaller tank and also does better there rather than a bigger tank (might be different case by case though) so, most likely the FH is just taking some time to get used to a new environment I think.
Is everything else normal like poop and physical appearance?
 
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I had 2 fh around 2 inches that I moved from their holding tank to 40 gallon tanks. Took them about 3 days to start eating again. About 3-4 more days before they started having an appetite that resembled what they ate before. And then another 2-3 days before they started coming out beggin for food like they did in the holding tanks.

One of them had decor the other did not. The one with decor took 2 days longer to come out and beg for food. Appetite on both is about the same. The one with decor looked less stressed during the process since the one without decor was hanging on top or bottom all day. But the one with decor hid all day...so not much difference except where they stayed. When there is decor the fh will use it to hide.

I use to think decor was better to make the fh feel safe. But it gets in the way of training/bonding. If the fh is healthy I say no decor. It’ll make him recognize you faster. If the fh is sick...maybe a pot so he can get out of the light and keep it in there until he’s fully healthy and happy again. My experience is that if the fh are not stressed they won’t care about the decor. They’ll only use it when needed.
 
RounderRs said:
I heard that FH feels safer in a smaller tank and also does better there rather than a bigger tank (might be different case by case though) so, most likely the FH is just taking some time to get used to a new environment I think.
Is everything else normal like poop and physical appearance?
Click to expand...

His physical appearance is normal and his poop is okay. I think I might have spooked him when I walked past the tank and he's been afraid to come out of his corner when I'm around. He'll eat if I leave food in the water and he thinks i'm not looking at him so his appetite is still there.
 
Personally I would try putting some décor in the tank. Yes, the FH will use it to hide. But that is normal for a small cichlid to do. Some dither fish like fast danios also might help him feel comfortable. In the wild (yes I know FH are not from the wild, but their parents are) they watch the activity of smaller schooling-type fish to warn them about predators. If the small fish you put in are not scared of you, the FH will learn that you are food, and not danger. Putting him alone in a bare tank may make him get used to you quicker, but the fish will be under stress until then, and in my experience stress can be the biggest factor to a fish doing well or not.
 
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it takes time for him to get use to the surroundings. and yes smaller flowerhorns feel more secure in smaller tanks. a 4.5inch should be good in a 30gallon alone.
 
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I have a 10cm ish Malau FH and a 20cm ish Bichir Senegal together inside my tank.
I only had one large driftwood for my Bichir to chill however, I noticed my FH trying to stay sideways underneath the driftwood while resting as well. I knew Cichlids do that but didn't know FH also does that lololol.

I had to get some PVC pipes and cut it into 30cm (long enough for my bichir to fit in as well) long and enough diameter for my FH to go in. Now FH chills and sleeps inside the PVC pipes and comes out when I enter my garage where the tanks are.

Hope everything goes well mate :D
 
I might get some PVC or split the tank in 2 using some rockscape. It's my first time owning a flowerhorn and while I knew he would be more skittish in the 75 gallon tank, I expected it to happen right away instead of 2 days later. Thanks for all the help everyone!
 
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