Can changing what they see from their tank, change their temperment?

[Pandamania]

Has any one noticed a large difference in the temperment of their pets when : 1) back ground color of tank is changed, 2) if tank was not covered on the back and sides by any thing and then you put some thing on tank back/sides, or the fishes view became 'blocked' because of furniture arrangement, 3) change in substrate, or color of substrate? 4) other things.... Please share your experience/opinions about this. Tia.

 

[brich999]

Only fish I've noticed a change in was my pictus cat was insane in the tank just swimming all over the sides and top constantly never stopped, hence i named him tweak, and now I moved his tank into a kinda closed in spot where it has wall on sides and back and now he's calmed down and hides a lot more

 

[stymie]

I have 2 Oscars. I transferred them to a larger tank about 6-8 months ago and for the first month or two, it didn't have a background - just a white wall a few inches from the back of the tank. When I added a black background, they started to go nuts. It looked like they were trying to swim through the rear of my tank. I assume adding the background either changed their depth perception or made the back more reflective and they thought they were looking at other fish. They don't seem to be bothered by it now, but the behaviour lasted a couple of weeks.

 

[Pandamania]

My JD was fine with the black background. I added side panels during the winter to keep the heat in. He was going back and forth, like he's clostrophobic! When my cichlids were smaller, under 2" I had 5 of them in a 40gl. They were getting along fine, it seemed, until I put the back and sides on too. I have a 48gl with 2 Angels, they actually seem better with back and sides on the tank. They don't hide now, even when I walk by them. Maybe it depends on personality of the fish.

 

[cullens089]

ive been contemplating on gettin a black background for my tank and was wonderin if it would alter their personalities

 

[Pandamania]

From my short time, in this love of fish experience, it seems the more 'intelligent' fish are effected more than....say.....the average goldfish, or guppy types. Any one else have an opinion on this stuff? Maybe I should have worded the title of the thread a bit differently?