Fish that are afraid of their own shadow

[david17]

I really got tired of tip toeing around my tank. Even if i went near they where slamming into walls etc etc. I know many people keep them, but wait until they get very large, pain in the backside.

yesterday my black aros did the same thing when i get near, they start slaming into walls,the first time they scared the sh"#$ out of me because worried for their barbels.

 

[poly-nomial]

I have some.

Although i love giant danios and their schooling capabilities, they are so fricken skittish. For example, i try to wipe the front pane of glass clear of smudges and they spazz out like i have never done it before. Also when i turn on the lights, they jump up against the hood for like 30 seconds. They are hurting themselves

Also, silver dollars. Man those things are annoying, they eat plants, are messy and when you take a picture, the light (if any) reflects off them like a mirror. it is a pain in the butt if you want a nice show tank.

 

[IKeepPacu]

pacu!

even in a large pond, they still tend to freak out and swim into the sides on occasion for no reason, or just because i come near the pond

 

[SteveR]

I think the arguement for bigger tanks for the balas may have some truth to it, but I've had problems with them even in very large 150G tanks...I just don't like fish that you have to slow-mow by your tank or they slam in to walls. It's just stressful for all involved isn't it?

 

[Allan01230]

I always keep a lot of plastic plants or wood or something in the back of the tanks. This gives them security and helps with the freakin out. In front I use small decor. Never had luck with bare tanks. Also

 

[SteveR]

Didn't realise pacu could be skittish? Thanks for letting me know (not that I have the tank to keep those monsters).

 

[TwistedPenguin]

My Silver Dollars are fine in the 8' tank but when they were in a 6' tank they freaked all the time. I can't imagine having Silver Dollars in a 4' tank.

 

[AKlass]

My Jardini tends to do that... hes been doing it less with me but it seems like he has some damage to his mouth because my dad fed him this morning..

 

[doubledragon]

Also I always turn on a double bulb 8' striplight that's in the fish room, for a little while before I turn my fish lights on. That definately keeps them from banging around so much. But if you just walk down their with only the basement light on and cast your shadow on the tank's, usually my t-barbs freak out a little bit.

 

[Redearsunfish]

Most large barbs, bala sharks, silver dollars, piranha - these fish have always freaked. I combat this by using schools and well decorated tanks with strategic amounts of swimming space.