newly skiddish rbps

[Nerfday96]

i have 3 new store bought rbp's all at about 1/2-3/4 of an inch, very small..they are currently in a 10 gallon tank for the time being until they get a little bigger so i can keep better care of them and there tank while they are young. after a recent water change and gravel cleaning they became quite skittish and are now hiding from me in spots they never ventured before...is this similar to the way rbp's sometimes act when adapting to an entirely new environment? prior to the water change/gravel cleaning they were quite friendly and would come out and look at me when i sat in front of there tank...please help as they have never acted this way before and i fearful i did something wrong during hte water change...as you can tell i'm a newb. THANKS!!
-Nerfday96

 

[46&2 MR]

RBP's are skittish by nature and normaly only like to explore or come out of hidding for food, beautiful fish but mostly sit around and or hide. If you did the water change and gravel vac while they were in there you could have scared them and there skittish from that. Give them some time to warm back up.

Also something to consider. Do you have lots of driftwood, rocks and plants to make it look and feel like home? If not, the more you add (without over croweding) the more comfortable they will be and more they will swim.

 

[rxracer]

i noticed my 4 RBP started to do that after a while. i found out that by shuting off the tank light they come out a lot more. i leave the tank light off more than on anymore, cuase when its off they come out and cruise all over the tank and play in the power head . mine are about 1.5 to 2.25 inches.. just starting to get bigger and more aggresive

 

[Nerfday96]

here is a shot of what the odd man out juvi rbp has been doing all night:
the other 2 are perfectly normal, swiming around, hiding from time to time, and eating regularly...this one just passed up food for the first time since i got him.

 

[Nerfday96]

sorry forgot the pic

 

[dmopar74]

rbp's are naturally very shy, i wouldnt worry. i had mine in the bedroom where he never saw anybody so he would freak out anytime we would come near so i moved him into the living room and he has gotten used to people and other pets but if i get to close he still hides. thats just the way it usually is unless ur lucky. my rbp,s parents were very courageous and never hid, luck of the draw i guess. oh and the more u leave ur lights on they should sooner or later adapt to it as long as its not too bright, i dimmed mine with some construction paper.