Tankmates for nervous Satanoperca rhynchitis

[kleigh9]

I have five S shynchitis in a 125 gallon, have had them about 3 years. Current tankmates are 9 Congo tetras, 6 red phantom tetras, 3 L 106 plecos and 6 sterba cory cats. The Satanoperca are very nervous and spend a lot of time hiding. I have a lot of driftwood caves and anubias plants for cover, the lighting is pretty low.

They will come out and pick through the sand if no one is in the room. As soon as some one comes in they hide. If I sit very still, they are out and about but as soon as I move -gone! I was hoping for suggestions for some tankmates that might help them be more relaxed. LFS suggested angels or rams? I wondered if more Satanoperca would help but all they have now are S leucosticta, so not sure if that's a good idea.

Part of their nervousness is probably my fault - last fall the tank brace broke on my tank and I had to catch and remove them to replace the tank. They have been skittish ever since. If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them.

Thanks in advance!

 

[tlindsey]

I have five S shynchitis in a 125 gallon, have had them about 3 years. Current tankmates are 9 Congo tetras, 6 red phantom tetras, 3 L 106 plecos and 6 sterba cory cats. The Satanoperca are very nervous and spend a lot of time hiding. I have a lot of driftwood caves and anubias plants for cover, the lighting is pretty low.

They will come out and pick through the sand if no one is in the room. As soon as some one comes in they hide. If I sit very still, they are out and about but as soon as I move -gone! I was hoping for suggestions for some tankmates that might help them be more relaxed. LFS suggested angels or rams? I wondered if more Satanoperca would help but all they have now are S leucosticta, so not sure if that's a good idea.

Part of their nervousness is probably my fault - last fall the tank brace broke on my tank and I had to catch and remove them to replace the tank. They have been skittish ever since. If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate them.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome aboard

dan518
Gourami Swami
mrrobxc
darth pike

 

[Gourami Swami]

floating plants/vertical cover in the tank would be my first suggestion. You'd be surprised how much ofa difference floating plants can make. Anubias are cool but don't actually provide much cover, as they are low to the ground.

 

[kleigh9]

Welcome aboard

dan518
Gourami Swami
mrrobxc
darth pike

Thanks tlindsay!

I am not sure floating plants will live - so far anubias is the only live plants I have managed to keep growing. Maybe I could float some plastic ones though. I have some of tnose laying around,

 

[mrrobxc]

Floating plants are easy. Worth a try.

Your tank is pretty small so I’m hesitant to recommend adding more fish but a couple smaller geo species like pindare or red head tapajos might help break the spell and get them to be less skittish.

 

[darth pike]

Floating plants are the first thing I would try.

How big are they? Sometimes too large of a dither can have the opposite effect and congos are rather large. Perhaps a small group of a much smaller tetra.

How skittish were they before? Some wild cichlids never really lose it. My pair of blue fin westies still hides from me but their babies (well adults now) come up and beg.

 

[kleigh9]

Floating plants are the first thing I would try.

How big are they? Sometimes too large of a dither can have the opposite effect and congos are rather large. Perhaps a small group of a much smaller tetra.

How skittish were they before? Some wild cichlids never really lose it. My pair of blue fin westies still hides from me but their babies (well adults now) come up and beg.

I have wondered that myself (about the congos). They are 5 - 6 inches now. The LFS recommended the bigger dithers, partly why I hesitated to take their advice to add angels. I will try some floating plants first - not sure why I didn't think of that, duh. Thanks!