Mbuna are hiding, and startle at any movememt.

[markstrimaran]

I thought it was just a few fish, but my lower tank has something, that freaks out the cichilds.

The top tank fish are not spooked like the lower tank.

The lower tank has
Led lighting vs a single 48" florescent tube.

The cats will put paws on tank. Drink out of the top. They can not get on top.

The recent 50/50 blue have always been fearless an are all hiding.

I did clean the tank,

 

[duanes]

I have always found in floor tanks most cichlids are very paranoid.
When you consider the birds, and reptiles are their most common predators, it is not surprising that any shadow cast over or near, will create an instinctive flight response.

 

[RD.]

They might also be sensing more vibration at that level, another trigger for flight in native fish.

 

[markstrimaran]

I also put the 5 pvc tubes across the back. Which were inhabited with about 10 mean Psudotrouphus elongatus. They kept most of the other smaller mbuna out.
About two weeks ago, I removed all of them except the two big males. That left only one mean Psudotrouphus to defend the 5 tube Pvc cave fort.
I am thinking I should remove the pvc caves.


I put all the extra males, in the top tank. They spent most of their life hiding. In the other tank. But so far they have started to behave, without any girls around.
The bottom of this tank is 60 inches off the floor. It has sand, but the return pipe blows it all forward.

Interestingly, the dominant male in this tank, was saved from the middle tank, about two months ago, as a possible blue female, as he was getting harassed. He owns under the log, but is dominated by the male dragons blood, with two female dragons blood brood.

 

[markstrimaran]

The 50/50 acei are cruzing the tank again. If given a chance they will hide out in a cave. Did a major overhaul, and repaired the broken holey plastic.
They still freak out, but can only hide between the verticals walls. In plain site.
They hold out for a little while.
Until the big psudotrouphus, realizes they are trespassing.

 

[markstrimaran]

Lol
I just realized, I need a different WC shirt.

View attachment 1511557597126708047213.jpg

 

[markstrimaran]

The daily cat Stalkings, or maybe too much late night dog TV. Then today around 10 am, They decided to come out and eat algea.

 

[Nick Park]

Fish get spooked by the strangest things. I made the mistake of thinking that this toy that belongs to my Old English Sheepdog might make my blood parrot feel at home (similar colouring & eyes). As soon as I held it near the tank, every fish in the tank went berserk with fear. I'm guessing the over-sized eyes just screamed out "Big Predator!"

 

[J. H.]

Fish get spooked by the strangest things. I made the mistake of thinking that this toy that belongs to my Old English Sheepdog might make my blood parrot feel at home (similar colouring & eyes). As soon as I held it near the tank, every fish in the tank went berserk with fear. I'm guessing the over-sized eyes just screamed out "Big Predator!" View attachment 1288710

It may also have looked like a really big, pissed off blood parrot. lol