My bonsai flipped his lid after I vaccuumed the gravel and messed up whatever he and his lady parrot were doing. I thought I accidentally poisoned the water, he kept going to the surface and acting despondent, and the parrot started bumping him...
I've noticed that some of these interactive fish that appear to be more 'advanced' mentally than a typical goldfish, can often times 'pout' when moved from one tank to another. Happened with a big aro one time. When I first picked her up, she would just sit at the bottom of the tank, wouldn't eat, wouldn't swim. Was like this for about 3 weeks. Then finally one day she just did a 180 and started pacing the tank back and forth and began eating.
Who knows what it is, but I think he'll come around eventually, if it's not something health related. I think he's just getting used to the new tank and surroundings. Oddly though, some fish could care less if you move them from one tank to another, while others seem to go through a 'depression' phase. There may be a lot that goes on in a fish's head that we can only speculate about
How do you know for sure it's not your water? It sounds like something is off, and is causing this behavior. Have you actually tested the water for ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAtes. Especially when moving to a bigger tank, ammonia spikes do occur. Did you take the old filter with the fish to the new tank?
Does the new tank have a background to give the fish some "cover" and feel "secure?"
it happened to me (albeit a smaller move...29 to 55) my knife fish went from a golden brown to a very dark almost black...some of it was age, but it was definitely attitude also...knife fish are legendary for the "shyness" factor and I used to brag how open "COOCHIE" was...that changed when he hit the 55...he's warmed up now but his coloring still isn't what it was...but his attitude is better...hey, here's an idea...how about a lady friend for him? eh? eh? I really think it's the stress from the move...it took my knife a good 4 months to snap out of his "pout"...good luck man...
heres what i did when I got home...checked my parameters. They were great!! I then did a 25% water change, removed all of the decor, and rearranged some of the rocks on the bottom. Did a real glass cleaning and the most important thing I did was...change the substrate. (by the way..pain in the @$$). It was black, I changed it out to a natural and white combination and it brightened up the tank so so much!! Any way, I cleaned up his mirror added it back to the tank and he was BACK to his old self. I am not sure what it is that caused it...but he is BACK!! I am really happy for him. His color is back and he's back to his stupid old habits. Thanks for the advice. For those who truly think that fish have no concept of happiness...I believe I may of proved everyone wrong. Maybe I just made someones thesis statement. Thanks again all who replied!!!
Putting over black gravel will darken him which would explain his dark color but I don't know if it would cause the sulking. Post an update video on Norm!
