My Technique for "cureing" skittishness

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VinceC_69

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 22, 2008
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Canada eh?
OK so Iv had my new Piraya (2") and my new Red (2") In there new tank for a few weeks now. Before i got them i already had planned out how i was gonna make them feel absolutely in comfort around humans OVER TIME, and it seems to be working flawlessly already. (really didn't think it would happen this quick)

Firstly, got them small so i can teach them to not be afraid from a young age. (Older specimen u never know what past owners or pet shops put them through) I have them in a well planted tank with plenty of room in the basement where theirs very little light (just enough to see when Ur eyes adjust)

The ONLY reason i go into the basement is to feed them once a day, other then that there on there own in the "semi dark" Bord with nothing EVER exciting ever happening, or to fear.
The reason im doing this is to "install" in there mind from a young age that my presence is the BEST part of there day, and also that human contact comes with a treat (feeding time).
So how is it coming? lets just say when the lights go on at feeding time BOTH P's rush the front of the glass in excitement like wild hogs, once the food hits the water it will not sink under 2 inches of the surface before they have charged it boiling the water... then i simply walk away turn the light off and forget about them.
And when i first brought them home they were nothing like this; super skittish typical pygo's.

It really sucks that i cant watch them for longer but i promised myself A massive 20" Piraya with the aggression of a elong/rhom , Personality of a Oscar, and color of a wild caught.

Going to continue like this this for much longer then when the time seems right I will Slowly spend more time with them.

I just posted this to hopefully inspire people to build the fish of there dreams, through patience dedication and hard work.
 
good that it worked for you.
maybe add some ip cam in the basement so you can look at them without going down there to freak them out.
 
Do you ever plan to move the tank into a living area where you and/or others can enjoy them all the time?
My idea was to have mine feel comfortable with humans present most of the time. I did as you and provided plenty of cover and hiding areas. I blacked out the rear panel. I keep half the tank light, half dark and very dimly lit. I however keep them in my living room where my girlfriend and I are most of the time.
It didn't happen overnight but they've learned to trust me and have no real fear of me. As you can see in my avatar, they come directly to the front glass and just hang out and watch me as close as I do them. The picture in my avatar is really more impressive in full size and you can see just how close they come. The night I took that picture they sat in that front corner for well over 45 minutes and seemed to be talking to me<G>!
 
A large tank + Lots of hiding places + Frequent, healthy feedings + As much human traffic as possible + Lots and lots of time and patience = Success
 
Ohio Entusiast;3120287; said:
Do you ever plan to move the tank into a living area where you and/or others can enjoy them all the time?
My idea was to have mine feel comfortable with humans present most of the time. I did as you and provided plenty of cover and hiding areas. I blacked out the rear panel. I keep half the tank light, half dark and very dimly lit. I however keep them in my living room where my girlfriend and I are most of the time.
It didn't happen overnight but they've learned to trust me and have no real fear of me. As you can see in my avatar, they come directly to the front glass and just hang out and watch me as close as I do them. The picture in my avatar is really more impressive in full size and you can see just how close they come. The night I took that picture they sat in that front corner for well over 45 minutes and seemed to be talking to me<G>!
Click to expand...

agreed. I dont know how I would feel about having fish and only looking at them once during feeding. My reds are about 3.5 4 inches and they come to the top of the tank when I go into the kitchen. They come to the top of the tank and start eating pellets before I even have time to close the bag, and they will eat when I am 6 inches away from the tank.

I think a lot of interaction on a daily basis is key to having less skittish pygos.
 
Oh hell ya, this is by no means permanent...

This is going to be my "show peace" tank, this isolation like i said is to Imprint only good memories from human contact from the start. Then I'm gonna be with them all the time once I move them into the family room.
The main reason why im able to keep away from them so well for the beginning is because i also have my elong tank in my room next to my bed :P along with a bearded dragon, emperor scorpion, and Tarantula lmao.. The years of experience with exotic pets that generally don't like human contact has allowed me to "train" em all very well.

This method is definitively not for anyone who only have 1 fish tank or pet, because u probably wont be able to be as patient as i can be for the trust to build.
 
VinceC_69;3120828; said:
Oh hell ya, this is by no means permanent...

This is going to be my "show peace" tank, this isolation like i said is to Imprint only good memories from human contact from the start. Then I'm gonna be with them all the time once I move them into the family room.
The main reason why im able to keep away from them so well for the beginning is because i also have my elong tank in my room next to my bed :P along with a bearded dragon, emperor scorpion, and Tarantula lmao.. The years of experience with exotic pets that generally don't like human contact has allowed me to "train" em all very well.

This method is definitively not for anyone who only have 1 fish tank or pet, because u probably wont be able to be as patient as i can be for the trust to build.
Click to expand...

IMHO you're going to complicate matters. I see it as having to train them twice. The only way I'd keep them isolated is if I intended to breed them.

Like the other guy said; A lot of traffic around their tank, low light and plenty of cover will suffice in earning their trust and them becoming sociable. I think a lot of folks think Pygocentrus species will have the personality of Oscars but the fact is they never will.

It just takes time for them to trust humans.
 
Ohio Entusiast;3122274; said:
IMHO you're going to complicate matters. I see it as having to train them twice. The only way I'd keep them isolated is if I intended to breed them.

Like the other guy said; A lot of traffic around their tank, low light and plenty of cover will suffice in earning their trust and them becoming sociable. I think a lot of folks think Pygocentrus species will have the personality of Oscars but the fact is they never will.

It just takes time for them to trust humans.
Click to expand...

Im a engineer, my salery depends on complicating things:ROFL:

What u guys are saying makes perfect sense, there is absolutely no reason to convince me. As a matter of fact gowning up i owned many different natts threw the years and my approach was always the same: high traffic contact, and time. And over time they did become more sociable.

Today I went into the basement to feed and change water, and to my surprise when i removed the lid and inserted my python they didn't back up! instead they attacked it! through the whole water change hahahahahah
Never in my life have i been so afaid to put my hand in a P's tank.

Watching them try to embrace every short minute of time they have with me is a feeling i cant describe.

Truth of the matter is i have never seen or even heard of resaults like this, it seems far pitched but i have nothing to lose.. i can stop this anytime i wish and move them simple as that. its working flawlessly and thats all that matters.
 
VinceC_69;3122367; said:
Im a engineer, my salery depends on complicating things:ROFL:

What u guys are saying makes perfect sense, there is absolutely no reason to convince me. As a matter of fact gowning up i owned many different natts threw the years and my approach was always the same: high traffic contact, and time. And over time they did become more sociable.

Today I went into the basement to feed and change water, and to my surprise when i removed the lid and inserted my python they didn't back up! instead they attacked it! through the whole water change hahahahahah
Never in my life have i been so afaid to put my hand in a P's tank.

Watching them try to embrace every short minute of time they have with me is a feeling i cant describe.

Truth of the matter is i have never seen or even heard of resaults like this, it seems far pitched but i have nothing to lose.. i can stop this anytime i wish and move them simple as that. its working flawlessly and thats all that matters.
Click to expand...


Didn't you mean your syphon???? or you pretend to feed your P's on a snake?????..:screwy::ROFL:
 
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