Are my silver dollars defective?

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

I recently moved my group of 3 spotted silver dollars into my new 150 gallon tank about maybe a week ago. All my other fish are coming out and swimming about but they are just sitting at the bottom barely moving unless it’s time for food. Any suggestions to get them moving?

 

[Deadeye]

How bright are the lights? What other fish are with them?
Piranhas are sensitive to bright light, so will hide out if it’s too bright. Additionally, silvers stress easily with too aggressive of tankmates.

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

The lights are actually pretty dim. I have them with South American cichlids and hybrids. ( BP,EBJD, red shoulder severum.) 2 bichirs and 2 danios who school with them when they move

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

I rarely of ever see them get picked on

 

[Fishyboy🐟🐟🐟]

I rarely of ever see them get picked on

My suggestion is that either they are still really stressed or the tank mates are stressing them out, i would remove tankmates to see if they are, and put the nice ones back (fish become active at night)

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

They don’t show any signs of stress (ie: pale in color or things like that) and I never see any fish pick on them

 

[FJB]

They ARE showing signs of stress- not coming out and remaining at the bottom. However, that can improve with a little time and some help from you. Perhaps you can add some structural elements to the landscape such as a piece of driftwood they can mull around and under and they can claim as their turf. A picture of the tank would allow suggestions along those lines.
The other issue is that they like to be in groups and when they are sharing with other large and assertive fish (cichlids), they cower when they feel outnumbered.

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

Ok. I do have lots of decor such as rocks and a piece of driftwood. However I do not have another tank to put them in for the time being. I was talking to my LFS owner and he said if I added a few more that could help. Should I add more?

 

[dmyersWv]

I always try to keep at least 6. They seem to feel more comfortable in a larger group.

 

[tlindsey]

I recently moved my group of 3 spotted silver dollars into my new 150 gallon tank about maybe a week ago. All my other fish are coming out and swimming about but they are just sitting at the bottom barely moving unless it’s time for food. Any suggestions to get them moving?

Are those the same fish that was in old aquarium with the Silver Dollars before you moved them into the 150 gallon? If so I would give a little time to adjust.