Do backgrounds cause strange behavior?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I'm guessing it's either because of the high-traffic area (bedroom), or the reflections in the backdrop as suggested. I don't plan on moving the tank any time soon, and I wouldn't want to swap out the background for one of those fake plant scenes, either.
 
I don't get the reflections thing. We see reflections because we're outside the tank looking through glass/water. If you were inside of the tank, you wouldn't see any reflections. Fish don't see their reflections when they look at the side of the tank, they see through it, like a window.

Personally, I would agree with Yogurt_21 on this one. It's probably due to reduced territory and location of the tank.

When you say the fish stay freaked out, how long have the fish been in there? I would imagine after a month or so they would be comfortable with their new surroundings.
 
Bumps the thread to the top of the page so more people see it, look into it, add comments.

Same with TTT, which means To The Top.
 
My fish try to rub on the "rocks" pictured in the background :)
 
I have a blue background on one of my tanks and the fish in that tank are the most skiddish; you may be on to something.

I am going to change it and see if it makes a difference. I know when I added a large rock background to another tank, some of the fish were trying to swim into the dark caves. So the fish definitely notice and interact with a background.
 
Have you checked to see if you have a voltage issue? It is possible that a heater or maybe powerhead has malfunctioned causing some elrctrical current in the water. But then again - if this were to be happening - the fish would not just freak when you enter room. Just my 2 cents.
 
Just take off the background and see if their behavior resolves.
 
knifegill;3687063; said:
Just take off the background and see if their behavior resolves.
yup , or swap the background for a black one. I like black ones better myself. :headbang2
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com