My super shy Vieja Argentea
- Thread starter trueblue82
- Start date
hi guys sorry for the spam! i wanted to edit the link to update it to the new video with lesser bg noise and lower exposure value, lol but theres a 15min limit to editing.
Sometimes floating logs also really help to take away shyness.
Since in nature birds are some of the major threats to fish, hiding under logs (but in plain sight to you) is (I know this sounds way too anthropomorphic) reassuring. I put floating logs, with pothos embedded, and the cichlids spend lots of time under, and among the roots.
The pothos also slightly reduces nitrate load.
View attachment 1240765
Great idea Duanes. I usually use vines from Michaels or another craft store. I run them across the top of the water it works great especially if you have a piscivore you can't put anything with that won't be a meal in one night.
Those floating logs with pothos are genius. I can't believe I've never thought of that. Now I can get rid of the 2x4s sitting on top to prevent carpet surfing.
Another thing I do is give a bright lit side of the tank and then dark on the other.
Just can't get over how grainy my previous videos look.
I lowered my phone cam's exposure and upped the resolution and iso values, now it looks better.
Finally i can see the pearls on this guy in the video!...this is what argenteas are all about!
Still resisting the urge to get a proper camera....
I lowered my phone cam's exposure and upped the resolution and iso values, now it looks better.
Finally i can see the pearls on this guy in the video!...this is what argenteas are all about!
Still resisting the urge to get a proper camera....
Sometimes my family members walk past the tank with a "foreign" object, in this case my father carrying his incline sit up board, spooking my vieja and it will refuse to come out and eat.
I've a Vieja Synspilum (5") and a Vieja Argenta (2.5") Tanks mates for these two are 1 x Thread Fin Arcara 2 x Blue Arcara 1 x Pleco 2 x Angel Fish All seem to get on well so far and a few little corries on the bottom I have my tank setup with a 3ft lump of bog wood 2 x tall plastic plants Big rocks, Red Slate and a few pastel 1" to 2" stones all on a Sandy substrate. All my fish come to the glass when I enter the room and when I get up close to tank. I've a 400ltr tank 4ft long 17" width 29" tall.
I kept a male Argentea for many years, from the time he was around 4 inches, all the way up until he was about 13". Here's a few suggestions I can make based on my personal experience...
Firstly, you could try out some different lighting options, perhaps something that's not so bright. I used a single 24" fluorescent tube over the 125 that I kept mine in and he seemed to really appreciate that. Only about half the tank was lit up, while the other half was pretty dark. Personally, I really like that look and it provided him some darker areas to hang out in without the use of decorations.
Dithers can also help shy fish feel more comfortable. If you're looking for something that's more biotope-specific, Swordtails can do the trick. If that's not a concern, Congo Tetras, Giant Danios, or various Barbs will do the trick.
Some sand or other substrate may help him feel more at home as well. Mine loved to "play" in the sand that I used, moving it back and forth, creating piles as well as large pits. He would also pick up small rocks, take them to the very top of the tank, and spit them out against the glass so they make a "tink-tink-tink" sound all the way down the glass. This was easily his favorite thing to do when he wasn't eating.
As far as being a picky eater, it sounds like you're on the right track with the NLS. Frozen foods can also help. If you're able to find Lifeline Herbivore diet, try that. They also really enjoy snails. I used to bring home dozens of pesky trumpet snails and dump them in the tank for him, and he would go absolutely nuts for them.
Lastly, as you already know, he's going to need a bigger tank soon. Male Argentea can grow very large and really shouldn't be kept in anything less than a six-foot 125 as an adult. You've obviously got some time before he reaches max size, but it's definitely something you'll want to think about in the near future.
Firstly, you could try out some different lighting options, perhaps something that's not so bright. I used a single 24" fluorescent tube over the 125 that I kept mine in and he seemed to really appreciate that. Only about half the tank was lit up, while the other half was pretty dark. Personally, I really like that look and it provided him some darker areas to hang out in without the use of decorations.
Dithers can also help shy fish feel more comfortable. If you're looking for something that's more biotope-specific, Swordtails can do the trick. If that's not a concern, Congo Tetras, Giant Danios, or various Barbs will do the trick.
Some sand or other substrate may help him feel more at home as well. Mine loved to "play" in the sand that I used, moving it back and forth, creating piles as well as large pits. He would also pick up small rocks, take them to the very top of the tank, and spit them out against the glass so they make a "tink-tink-tink" sound all the way down the glass. This was easily his favorite thing to do when he wasn't eating.
As far as being a picky eater, it sounds like you're on the right track with the NLS. Frozen foods can also help. If you're able to find Lifeline Herbivore diet, try that. They also really enjoy snails. I used to bring home dozens of pesky trumpet snails and dump them in the tank for him, and he would go absolutely nuts for them.
Lastly, as you already know, he's going to need a bigger tank soon. Male Argentea can grow very large and really shouldn't be kept in anything less than a six-foot 125 as an adult. You've obviously got some time before he reaches max size, but it's definitely something you'll want to think about in the near future.
