Cichla skiddish in morning?

[wife2dvs]

I was wondering if anyone else's juvie p bass are skiddish first thing in the morning. Mine are until they have had their first meal of bloodworms. then they are all

I think it may have to do with the lights not being on yet, but its kind of funny.

 

[High City Rida]

Welocme to the site and to the way's of the Cichla. They will be skittish long after the get bigger. You are in for some great day's. At the size your cichla are now they are not settled into there enviroment just yet. Get them some more cover in the tank. When approching the tank move slow and calm. After a few week's of this they should settle right in. I would get them some top floating plants or something to give them cover. A nice piece of driftwood can help also.

What size tank is it? How big are the Cichla?

 

[dvs]

she left for a bit, but the tank is a 46g and the cichla are about 2 inches. They have a plant and a couple nice pieces of driftwood they like to hide in. They are just super shy when we first wake up to feed them. The floating plant sounds like a good idea.

 

[impala65]

all of my cichla are skiddish and slugglish first thing in the morning
i dont have a moonliite yet so when i got to sleep the lights are off.
when i turn em on in the morning all the fish are sitting at the bottom
all their colors are very dark and it takes about 10 - 20 mins for them to start really moving around them tank
i think this behavior is normal
if you were sleeping and someone just blasts a light in your face frist thing in the morning you wouldnt feel to happy either lol

oh my bass are ranging from 4 in to 12inch and they all at funky in the morning
i hope this helps

 

[shookONES]

A trick I've adopted over the past few years is to turn the lights on in the room for a couple minutes before switching on the tank lights. The commotion outside gets the fish curious and eases the transition into full blast tank lighting.

 

[channarox]

A trick I've adopted over the past few years is to turn the lights on in the room for a couple minutes before switching on the tank lights. The commotion outside gets the fish curious and eases the transition into full blast tank lighting.

yep...thats what i do.
plus sunlight is so bright that it hits the tank as well,so i have a "natural" lighting that slowly goes "on" so my fish dont freak out...
cichla "sleep" at night....
in the morning theyre still "sleeping" before you turn on the lights.
but when the lights SUDDENLY go on,they tend to freak out....
theyre in their stress colors in the morning right?
freaking out bigger cichla is even more scary.........
they crash around the tank and attempt to hide under things that hurt them...

 

[channarox]

all of my cichla are skiddish and slugglish first thing in the morning
i dont have a moonliite yet so when i got to sleep the lights are off.
when i turn em on in the morning all the fish are sitting at the bottom
all their colors are very dark and it takes about 10 - 20 mins for them to start really moving around them tank
i think this behavior is normal
if you were sleeping and someone just blasts a light in your face frist thing in the morning you wouldnt feel to happy either lol

oh my bass are ranging from 4 in to 12inch and they all at funky in the morning
i hope this helps

yea...if you watch them at night when the lights all go out,theyll lie on the bottom huddled together and looking very dark....

 

[Houdini89]

I just purchased two 7 inch Peacock Bass, and yes they are skittish, is it worse when they where put in a new tank at a larger size, then when they grew up in the tank...

 

[High City Rida]

This thread is great. I am ROTHF. I still have young Cichla myself and Twin son's, 13 year old son and 9 year old little girl along with a 3 year old little boy. So trust me when I say they will get use to your pressence and movement's. They will alway's be jumpy for all sort's of reasons but most of all for food! 15''+ size Cichla in numbers moving for one thing food. My big Cichla soak everything all the time. Trust me it's a site to see and a lot's of shirt changes if you catch my drift. When I put my hand in the 240g the all rush my hand everytime no matter what.

It will all change they will soon be splashing you at feeding time at 6''. Right now I have a Kelberi and an Orino together mixed with a Con pair and a Cuban Hiathinesis pair, also one 6'' mature female Vieja Brohduri. They are holding it togeter for Cichla and not going against each other. It's actually a very beautiful site and when they feed they section the tank. This is something I have never seen and there tank is a 100g that sit's in the most high traffic spot of any of my tanks. Your little guy's will learn your way's and get use to them. My 2'' Kelberi and 4'' Azul dont budge and there light come's on first everyday at 5am. I give them 10 minute's and as soon as the feeders hit the water the Kelberi eat's immediatly first everytime.

 

[spacewelder]

Right on the money! My Kels were very timid when I first got them. They are very lazy in the AM but after the lights are on for 5 min. it is all out war when the blood worms hit the tank! This thread is great cause I know alot more people have juvis that are doing the same thing. I personally think it is natural instincts that have much to play here. Like sleeping with all their fins up just like they would do in the wild so they look bigger and don't get eaten.