fear strike?

[peathenster]

I don't know what's happening to my 90g. There are a dimerus pair, 3 young adult notatus, and 5 juvie notatus.

All was well till a few days ago, when all the fish suddenly became very scared. They hide when I get close, and dash randomly as fast as they can. It's the worst when I turn off the lights at night - I can hear them bumping into glass and other things, which goes on for several minutes. We are talking about loud thuds!!

Needless to say I'm beginning to see some scratches, missing scales and broken lips. I'm worried.

Anybody had similar experience? What's happening to them

 

[Sarah88]

did anything happen that could have freaked them out? did you have to net one of them out for some reason or was anyone messing with them? if its only when the lights go out maybe try putting a night light by the tank for a couple of nights to see if it gets any better, and when you go up to feed them try to walk up to the tank slowly and just sit by the tank while they eat (my robertsoni was extremely beat up when i got him because the petstore had him in with very aggressive cichlids and when i first got him he was totally afraid to even come out to eat, now he comes out alot and is almost healed but still sometimes gets a little freaked when im looking directly at him)

 

[Citrinellus]

This happened to me too with a pair of angels. They randomly just became frightened of me. I left them alone for an entire day. Then slowly approached the tank would stand there for a few minutes and feed lightly. Then slowly made the time longer and longer. I guess you just have to earn their trust again.

 

[peathenster]

yeah I guess it'll be a slow process....I wonder what happened in the first place??

I didn't take any fish out

 

[bob965]

Yah, fish can become skittish for mysterious reasons. This happened to me too after I farted near the tank. I just had to earn their trust back slowly, and take more showers.

 

[ryansmith83]

Two of the most common causes of skittish discus are crashing pH and stray current from a faulty heater/filter. If the pH is okay, can you test for stray voltage in the tank? You can also swap out the heater for the heck of it if you have a spare.

 

[peathenster]

Yah, fish can become skittish for mysterious reasons. This happened to me too after I farted near the tank. I just had to earn their trust back slowly, and take more showers.

one of the funniest posts I've seen....with a point

Two of the most common causes of skittish discus are crashing pH and stray current from a faulty heater/filter. If the pH is okay, can you test for stray voltage in the tank? You can also swap out the heater for the heck of it if you have a spare.

Thanks Ryan. I know it's not pH but haven't thought about stray current. Funny you mentioned it - I actually did change heater recently. But how can one test it?

I suppose I can unplug the heater temporarily to see if they get better....if it doesn't kill all my fish...room is at 70-75F.

 

[darth pike]

A nitrate spike can also cause cichlids to become skiddish. Given how many species breed for you peathenster, I doubt that may be it. Still, like troubleshooting a windows comp ... best to check everything off and just keep going down the list. I've seen that happen with one of my own tanks a few years ago, the same skiddishness and indeed there was a nitrate spike. Still to this day have no idea where it came from, there were no missing fish and the feeding/wc schedule was the same as always.

 

[peathenster]

A nitrate spike can also cause cichlids to become skiddish. Given how many species breed for you peathenster, I doubt that may be it. Still, like troubleshooting a windows comp ... best to check everything off and just keep going down the list. I've seen that happen with one of my own tanks a few years ago, the same skiddishness and indeed there was a nitrate spike. Still to this day have no idea where it came from, there were no missing fish and the feeding/wc schedule was the same as always.

Thanks for the tip. Will test water and do a large wc tomorrow.

 

[ryansmith83]

Shadows and vibrations will cause skittishness as well. Maybe because you relocated some fish to the tank, they're not used to it yet. I've found that one nervous fish can cause the whole tank to be antsy and stampede at a moment's notice. I'm guessing it's that fight or flight instinct -- one fish panics and the rest follow.

As for stray current, I think you could unplug the heater for a few hours and be fine. That much water wouldn't drastically cool too fast. Have you put your hands in the tank recently? I've felt stray current myself sometimes -- I had this weird stinging sensation around my cuticles. No wonder my fish were jumpy. It was not a pleasant feeling.