How shy is yours?

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Fire Eel
MFK Member
Mar 2, 2008
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Thailand
My NTT is so shy, it hides all the time. It's eating ghost shrimp and frozen blood worms and It's colour is good so i presume it's happy.
Are dats social fish? It's the only dat in the tank, if i get another will it help? When i fist pust it in it swam all over and played with the CLs but now it is hidden nearly all the time.
Mybe my RTG has spooked it.
Is it normal for small dats to hide so much?
 
Yes. If there is hiding space, they'll use it.

Occasionally you get the odd tiger that swims out displaying 24/7.
 
It depends on a variety of factors. The more the dats are in control, or at least not threatened, the more they tend to be out in the open. Once they get to "know" you that is.

Fish tend to recognize people, and get used to them. Become a part of the environment, and you will see them more.

If they aren't intimidated, they tend to be inquisitive, and will often be out in the open. They also like to chill in an ambush spot too.

Depending on what the dat prefers to do, it may be out in the open for large periods of time, or it could be sitting next to log/plant/whatever other structure is in the tank.
 
Both my indos don't move around a whole lot during the day, just lay next to driftwood. Later on in the day, they become alot more active. One of my IT used to swim around all the time when I first got it, but about a month later, it seem to lose interest in exploring. Maybe they get bored
Other members here have said to lower the lighting. I have some moonlighting on the tank thats on every night. As soon as my daylight switches to moonlight, they become very active, and I can still watch them since its not pitch dark.

If you decide to add more dats, I would add more than 1 at a time. I tried the same thing, could only find 1, but thought its better than nothing. In my case, I would have been better off waiting for more. They are always fighting, mainly my first one chasing the newer one.
 
Every morning when i switch the lights on it's out, but as with yours it hides after. I know it eating well. I don't think I'll get more because they'll grow, along with all the other fish i have. In about 2 years my tank will be crowded.
 
my big datnoids come out my small guys hide
 
Yes , it is normal for small dats to hide, specially NTTs. Give it time .....my NTTs were always hiding .....after 5 months they came out and now they are very active.
 
i've got hiding spots but my IT doesn't hid behind them. he'll chill in a flower pot or near a piece of wood. its usually out with the rest of my fish though
 
The larger they are the more bold they become, it takes alot of patience, especially with NTTs, but if you take good care of them they look awesome at full size, NTT's are my favorite of all the Datnoid's that I can afford (WIDEBARS).
 
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