Flowerhorn sulking

[Coryloach]

I think he'll come around but it may take weeks, months. When I was moving my pleco once, he got caught in the net and I had to fiddle with it to get him out. He used to be very friendly with me, coming to my hand to eat and after that he became terrified and hid when he saw me. It took him several months to come around but besides that, he was not showing other signs of stress. Bagging the fish may have exposed him to gill ammonia burn and it is not always recoverable but for an hour or so only, hopefully that's not the case and he just hates you right now

 

[Chaory]

Okay, so it has been about over two weeks since the sulking and now he has gotten a lot better. I would say he's about 90% back to himself. A week ago I put a flower pot in his tank and he has been hiding out in there's if anything freaks him out. He also somehow likes to stay and relax in there from time to time. Also that is now his bed.

His colors are back and he doesn't look dark like an Oscar anymore, lol. Anyone who has a sulking or skittish cichlid, I would highly recommend a flower pot for hiding.

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[Man-made Monsters]

Okay, so it has been about over two weeks since the sulking and now he has gotten a lot better. I would say he's about 90% back to himself. A week ago I put a flower pot in his tank and he has been hiding out in there's if anything freaks him out. He also somehow likes to stay and relax in there from time to time. Also that is now his bed.

His colors are back and he doesn't look dark like an Oscar anymore, lol. Anyone who has a sulking or skittish cichlid, I would highly recommend a flower pot for hiding.

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The hiding in the flower pot gives the fish a sense of security when they are feeling threatened. When you own a flowerhorn a flower pot should really only be needed when you are breeding. It sounds like your fish got really really stressed out from his tank move. Allow him to settle in. Having a background on the tank is very important as you had mentioned that you painted it black. That gives the fish a sense of a non treating environment. I once had a 55 gallon grow out tank that my 2-3 inch juveniles, who were divided, always looked stressed in. I added a background and all their colors popped and they started interacting with me on a whole new level. I'm glad to hear he is at 90% continue letting him settle in, do your regular water changes, and keep an eye on the water parameters. He will be back to 100% soon.

 

[Chaory]

Okay, so about 2 weeks ago, I decided to remove the flower pot. He has been good since. I would say he's back 99%, just sometimes cautious when I open up his tank lid a bit. But he is flaring, eating, and acting normal again. It's been a run.