Boy I know I ask some dumb questions, but I can't figure out why he does this. I just got a new Jaguar cichlid about 4" or so, and the last 3 nights he has slept at the top of the tank. All the other SA Cichlids I have sleep in hide spots, or on the bottom, but he really does sleep at the top. During the day he's your normal, everyday active, aggressive cichlid, but at night he has me thinking he's dead. I actually got up every 2 hours or so on Friday to make sure he was alive. I have plenty of hide spots, nothing appears to be picking on him. Water parameters are good. The only thing I can think of that might be contributing is from what I've read they like water temp 75-78 or so. This tank is about 80. I have 2 HOB filters, pump return and a powerhead, so current and water movement is ample. Does anyone else have a cichlid that does this, or any ideas why mine does?
New Jaguar Cichlid sleeping habits ?
- Thread starter daveydoodle
- Start date
At night, the others, if bigger, could possibly be trying to eat him. Most catfish are active at night and if you have any of those, they might be harassing him. Either way, hes found the place he feels the safest in.
Only catfish I have in there is a Raphael cat (4"). If my Jag's going to sleep up there anyway, at his size would it be better to put a floating plant up there to make him feel more safe and/or secure? Give him a pseudo-hiding spot up top?
So by the lack of responses I'm guessing that everyone elses juvenile Jaguars rest near the bottom or in a hide???
All the jags that I've had slept on the bottom in their own spots. The only time any of my cichlids sleep at the top is when they are being harrassed at night by more aggressive fish. Try to look in your tank at night without turning on too many room lights that would disturb them. Maybe, you'll see if one of your other fish is picking on your jag. What are your other fish anyway?
Just about all of my fish hid when I put them in their tanks. They were a lot smaller then. But they usually swam at night when the lights were off. As they got older they came out all day. They only stayed at the surface when another fish was bullying them. I think its something that will pass in time as they grow. Just make sure no other fish are trying to kill them at night.
Yep...he was hiding from larger, nocturnal pedators. This is the first feeder fish I've grown attached to. 
My jaguar hid behind the tube part of the HOB at the very top. Try making more hiding spot. If your jag is active and eating I wouldn't worry about it to much.