advice on a shy jag

[thewaterboy]

Hi everyone,

I have a 5-6 male jag who is VERY nervous and shy and I can't understand why. This is my 2nd shy fish, the 1st was a male festae that was so shy I hardly ever saw him. It got to the point were I sold him bc he was was not a good pet. I really have no idea why this keeps happening to my fish. The jag is in a 75G tank with an endli. They have been together for around 7 months and are fed usually every other night.
I have tried a school of 6 giant danio target fish that lasted 2 nights before they were eatin. I feel like im out of options and Im thinking about switching to salt.

There are no other animals in the house that would scare the fish, there are no kids in the house. My guesses for the shyness are that I am not home much at all, my old wooden floors squeek and crack like crazy when i walk in the tank room, they associate me with the python syphon system which i use with every WC, the light is only on for 6 hours a day which might not be long enough. I dunno, any advice? thanks!

 

[chris_zx2]

Try feeding more often with smaller amounts. Also try bloodworms, after a week or two they will associate you with food especially bloodworms.

My Jag comes to the surface when she sees the bloodworms package.

 

[greenterra]

Patience is the key here as parachromis species are often shy when young. It will surely gain confidence as it grows. Reduce your feeding amount and feed every day so as to create routine. Spend as much time as possible near or next to the tank. Use structure the fish can swim around like timber but remove anything the jag can hide in.

 

[Gatorxxx420]

Patience is the key here as parachromis species are often shy when young. It will surely gain confidence as it grows. Reduce your feeding amount and feed every day so as to create routine. Spend as much time as possible near or next to the tank. Use structure the fish can swim around like timber but remove anything the jag can hide in.

Mine is getting to where he isn't as skittish now as it's in the 6" range. I know it's a boy, because the other day his tube dropped and he was pretty rowdy lol.

To the OP,as said patience, in time it will be very interactive with you. Mine is getting to where it comes to the side of the tank by my bed and stares at me until I feed him or at least acknowledge him.

 

[Crotalus Scutulatus]

Goes to show aggression depends on the fish not the brand! Try a mate if you are confident that you have a boy. With a pair there is plenty of activity. It brings out flirting and they become protective of eachother. Though a 75 might be a little small once they mature. Good luck!

 

[thewaterboy]

thanks for your advice everyone. I now have hope he will get more personable, even though he is shy Im still attached to him and switching tank setups would be a hard decision for me.

 

[Gatorxxx420]

thanks for your advice everyone. I now have hope he will get more personable, even though he is shy Im still attached to him and switching tank setups would be a hard decision for me.

How long have you had the fish?

 

[DCOWBOYS]

My 7" Jag was very shy,until i put a Freddy in with him now he swims around with the Freddy all the time,he has even started eating pellets wich he never did before because the Freddy eagerly accepts them.

 

[Otherone]

Greenterra said it best - patiences. 5-6" might seem like a decent size but it's actually quite small for both Jags and Festae, once they start packin' on wieght more so then length they'll come out

 

[smitty03281964]

They generally become shy from lack of traffic in the room.