cichlid behaviors

[its_an_obsession]

so i have a question about several of my cichlids behaviors. i noticed this with my jack dempsey, managuense, and mayan cichlid. they are all in different tanks and displayed the same behavior.

there appetite for food seems to have some sort of cyclical pattern. they go throw times where i come to the tank and they are at the surface waiting for food and other times where theyjust run and hide and are uninterested in food. and im not talking a day to day pattern. patterns lasting month or more. usually a month on the not eating alot part.

anyone else see this happen?

 

[its_an_obsession]

bump

 

[Dmaan.]

stick your hands in the tank a lot?
skittish fish are usually always just skittish.

what size tank are they in?

 

[SOKO]

They are just shy they will get used to it eventually

 

[Mad About Cichlids]

Check on your fishes for any signs of sickness and water conditions when they're acting strangely. Cichlids are usually pretty outgoing unless conditions are not right. How is your setup like? Maybe they're not comfortable in it.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

some cichlids, like jack dempseys, do tend to stay skittish if kept alone

 

[cchhcc]

Check on your fishes for any signs of sickness and water conditions when they're acting strangely. Cichlids are usually pretty outgoing unless conditions are not right. How is your setup like? Maybe they're not comfortable in it.

Bingo!

Healthy cichlids tanked long term will always get excited about food. If they don't check for problems.

 

[its_an_obsession]

my first reaction was that they were sick. but none of them ever show signs of illness.

actually most recently i noticved my one pike cichlid also shying away from food. im just finding it strange that its happened several times to fish that are in different tanks.

jack dempsey. i have him in a 55 community with some other cichlids and sd's. used to not be very aggressive towards food and would eat but not really attack. then one day he starts attacking the krill in the tank and really eating alot. then a few months later he stops and seems like hes not eating much. last for about a month and now he's back to his same old self.

mayan cichlid is in a 75 all by himself. has been going through lots of phases. sometimes he darts into the cave when u walk in the room and hides and wont eat. sometime hes coming to the surface and even biting my hand when its in the tank. also not day to day. but like monthly trends.

crenicichla lacustris. is doing kinda the same thing. hes on a not eating alot binge right now. but ive seen him do the same thing before and it lasted a monthish.

so i know everyone is thinking sick fish and ima donkey. i can never see anything noticeable in there appearance and nothing is wrong with any of the other fish. so i wondered if it was some sort of cyclical behavior some cichlids go through. kinda like a form of hybernation almost. i dunno.