me and my husband just aquired a 55g tank with a pink tailed chalceus and two botia loaches from his uncle who can nolonger care for them due to moving cross the country. the problem is we had to buy a new tank for them... well the old tank had lots of algea on it and the new one is all shiny n glossy and the big guy pinky is so shy that when we approach the tank to feed he swims away as fast as he can and repeatedly smashes his nose into the wall trying to get away. we think is may be the reflection making the tank seem to go on but how can we get him to stop trying to bash himself to death till the tank can begin growing algea? and is there a way to make algea grow faster?? any advice will be apreciated. i love the big guy n want him to be around for a while longer but im afraid he will hurt himself..
psycotic pink-tailed chalceus...help
- Thread starter DezzyDory
- Start date
Sounds like normal characin related stress. They are animals and there natural behavior is when they get scared the flee the area. I hope that this BIG guy is not more than 6-8 inches long in that 55g tank. Or being cramped can cause this stress as well. Also with it being a new tank you need to test the water parameters and make sure there is not a water quality problem that is causing stress. Check for ammonia , nitrite, and temp are the more important ones. There should be zero ammonia and zero nitrites in the tank at all times. Also when moving a fish you should keep all lights off in the area for a day, so that it can settle in and then slowly work the lights on. So that you do not freak it out.
he is only 6 inches and the new tank is using the same filter from the old tank so the bacteria stuff is still the same didnt think to check the paremeters but i will do that how ever when i say its a new tank i mean ive had it up almost 3 weeks now...
I had a school of eight given to me a while back. They retardedly skittish in my personal experience, even in my six foot tank. As for the bashing, try planting tall vallis grass that reaches the suface on each side to make a visual barrier.
ok so i got moss walls on either end now and the nose bashing has stoped 
lol. and yes the parameters checked out fine too. 
so all good now! thnx for the advice and suggestions.
lol. and yes the parameters checked out fine too. so all good now! thnx for the advice and suggestions.