Hi. I got a chocolate cichlid from a friend today who said it was being bullied in his tank by a green terror and texas cichlid. Since i placed it in my setup it been swimming at an unusual angle. slightly tiled head up. is this normal for these fish? or would there be a swim bladder issue? my friend only had it housed for one night where he said it stayed in the top corner of the tank.
Chocolate Cichlid
- Thread starter Nozebleed
- Start date
what is your current set-up?
as a new fish, he may just be having trouble acclimating, but you didn't mention what other fish you have as well (?)
as a new fish, he may just be having trouble acclimating, but you didn't mention what other fish you have as well (?)
if his body is almost at like a 45 degree angle and he seems to be staring at the surface than thats normal. Thats pretty much how they hang out when they are out and about. Toss a cricket or two in there and youll see, they go nuts for them
seems like it might be stress due to acclimating, I've found chocolates to be very moody in that regard, more so than oscars for example
yeah sorry...it was definately stressed. when i first got him he was bright yellow like banana yellow and he turned dark brown, i have him housed with some large fronts at this stage as i dont have anywhere else to put him. he seems ok,over the last few hours he's stamped his authority on a part off the tank.
Like others have said, the watching the water surface is pretty normal for my chocolate. Mine's also pretty moody as well. Always sulks after a gravel vac.
Mine quit doing this because my festivums always peck him when he's at the surface. 
He mostly cruises around the middle level of the tank now.
He mostly cruises around the middle level of the tank now.yep, whoever said 45 degrees is right, thats how the one if owned a few yrs back always seemed to be foatin around. thats just how choc cichlids kick it.