My Dovii
- Thread starter James3x0
- Start date
Pic can help, when young they can be shy and like to hide, when older this could be spawning behavior
Definitely not spawning he's a juvenile male just starting to show spottings when not in direct light I wouldn't say he's skittish either because even when I walk up to the tank when he's out he doesn't go and hide. I'm thinking he probably just redecorated around there and made that his new home because he'll come out and normally swim around, eat and everything and come to the surface when he sees me so I'm almost positive of this I just want to make sure this isn't like a sign of some sort of parasite, or stress.
Sounds ok for a young dovir, pretty typical behavior , until they hit the: "I'm gonna kill all my tankmates" phase
Maybe the lighting is to bright? Floating plants might help if so. My female is always hiding in my tank, but all the males I’ve had were pretty nuts. I’ve noticed a lot of the Parachromis fish seem to flip a switch around 7 inches and go berserk. Personally noticed it more in Jags but maybe it’s a species thing.
does he beg for food when hungry? if you can get the fish to associate food with your hands you will not have a shy fish.
I read that festae can be the same but mine surely is not shy. He is only 3.5" and I got him hand feeding.
I read that festae can be the same but mine surely is not shy. He is only 3.5" and I got him hand feeding.
He isn't shy at all. Just seems he made a home beside my lava rock.. He redecorated all the sand away and dug a pit he just stays in most of the time. He does come out and swim around here and there and when I feed him he comes right out
My festae made a den in a pile of driftwood just like your dovii he moved all the gravel out lol. Be while he does enjoy his time in there more often than not he is interacting with me and really enjoys being out. He tend to go to his den once he is fully fed 
I been doing multiple tiny feedings which keeps him begging for more all the time. I really enjoy hand feeding home tilapia, and he goes nutty for it.
Maybe try reducing his food a bit to keep him hungrier and begging. Get him used to your hands feeding the tank often. The association between you and food will ensure you fish always wants to see you.
I been doing multiple tiny feedings which keeps him begging for more all the time. I really enjoy hand feeding home tilapia, and he goes nutty for it.
Maybe try reducing his food a bit to keep him hungrier and begging. Get him used to your hands feeding the tank often. The association between you and food will ensure you fish always wants to see you.