Best way to reduce stress?

[willtang3000]

Hello,

I recently acquired three chunky wide bar datnoids on Thursday last week and I was wondering are there any methods to reduce stress for the fish? They are still exerting rather stressed colours with the cream pigmentation still very dark. They are kept in a 6 x 2 x 2 tank with an RTG arowana which is fractionally larger. There has been lots of taunting amongst the three dats and a few nips. The two better coloured dats are feeding exceptionally well nevertheless, they're still are exerting poor colouration. Will the colouration improve once the hierarchy in the tank has been established and is the addition of salt likely to reduce stress?

Many thanks!

 

[keaser06]

More dats will help. I had 3 and they were like yours I added 1 more and they stabled out nicely and all 4 eat like pigs now.

 

[Ade]

Theyll take time to settle in. Maybe months, to get comfortable in the new environment. Some will never be stable in your tank but super stable in another persons tank... Strange fish...
You have room to add a few more, which may help. My tigers always squabble/display against one another... but that's normal. No damage.

 

[fishysocks2012]

id keep the tank lights off, and keep activity around the tank at a minimum. Other than that, it all takes time.

 

[willtang3000]

Thank you for the tips. The tank is kept in the garage so activity around the tank is always minima. Fingers crossed I can get them to settle . I'm considering a few dither fish but I can't really find anything that takes my fancy. Any other tips would be highly appreciated.

 

[Ade]

I find the less I fiddle with tank set up the quicker they become comfortable.
Try to keep hands out of tank as much as possible. No salt is needed.


Add some tinfoils or dollars or schomburkis. Go well with tigers.
Floating plants work really well also.
Keep water pristine
keep eye on that arro.
If they fight more with lights off, then keep lights on for longer.