My Kels are always hiding in corners, is this normal?

[nismob]

Hey guys. I am new to the bass game. I've always wanted to get Kels since they have very nice golden color so I just got 2 Kels around 6" yesterday. They are still young and very skittish. They always hide in corners of the tank. They were also hiding in the tank at the store.

My tank has 1 big Arowana and other smaller fish (silver dollar, parrot, loaches, etc...). These are all swimming peacefully. No fighting, no aggression. The 2 bass still want to hide in corners. The bigger one sometimes swim around a little but nothing solid. Is this normal for bass in new tank?

Also, I don't know what they are eating. What are your suggestions to get them started? I would like to move them to pellets eventually, so should I let them starve at first and give them pellets a couple days from now?

Thanks in advance.

 

[krichardson]

Sounds like they are acting normal at the sizes they are.They should come around and become comfortable enough to move around in time but I can't really say when exactly.
Feeding....if they are not already eating pellets then you likely have a task on your hands in training them as young kels can be quite stubborn with new foods.

 

[isde02]

If your tankmates are eating pellets it will help. If/when the kels see them eating, they will be interested and eventually try to eat as well.

 

[nismob]

It's a relief to know they are normal. I guess they are not comfortable in this new setup. I'll just be patient.

Other tank mates (except the Aro) are taking pellets. They are small sized pellets for smaller fish though. The pellets are very small for the bass. I will try sticks for Aro and bigger predator fish when they swim around.

Would they starve themselves to death? I know my Aro won't starve himself.

 

[LBDave]

I got 2 4.5" kels in November. Store said they were pellet trained but they were not. They didn't eat for almost a week. Finally got them to eat frozen blood worms. I tried Hikari pellets and sticks but no go. So I suggest you get them eating something and then acclimate them a while. I tried krill. First day they spit them out. Now they are crazy for them. On Christmas I was away and didnt feed them. Next day they hit the sticks. But not after that.
To date one will hit sticks and sometimes eat them. The smaller one will not. I put some vita chem on the krill and basically tahts where I am at. They are growing pretty good. If you end up with krill or whatever if you really want to grow them fast feed 2-3 times a day. They tend to pack up the food and can eat so much at a time.
My kels hide in corners of tank or behind plants after water changes or disturbances. Also when sleeping at night. They wake up later than the oscars.
Try to keep the kels the same size. One may eventually pick on the other. I have had this happen where the big one will terrorize the small one for a day or 2. Then it stops.
I am waiting a bit until I starve the kels and get them onto sticks because I have 4 oscars in the tank and I want the kels to keep growing. Probably when they are a good 7" or so I will do this.
Kels will pout a bit and yes hide in corners, but once acclimated and hitting food they love they will color up and greet you at feeding time.
PS- I put vita chem on their food about every 3 days.

 

[isde02]

It's a relief to know they are normal. I guess they are not comfortable in this new setup. I'll just be patient.

Other tank mates (except the Aro) are taking pellets. They are small sized pellets for smaller fish though. The pellets are very small for the bass. I will try sticks for Aro and bigger predator fish when they swim around.

Would they starve themselves to death? I know my Aro won't starve himself.

Yes they will starve themselves to death. Get them on bloodworms, and then start soaking pellets in the bloodworms and then gradually add less bloodworms until you're feeding just pellets.