Red Devil SCARED in new tank!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

BillyBlanco

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 12, 2010
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Fontana, CA
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So i sold and traded in my haps that were in my 90 long. Moved my Festae growout from my 30 tall to the Red Devils old 55g. Moved the Red Devil into the 90 long. I put him in there and he just lay on the bottom of the tank sulking and turned whitish salmon as apposed to the color in my avatar. He is eating a little bit... wouldnt move for a couple days and get scared very eaily and darts into the side of the tank stirring up the sand. My gf had the idea that he has never been without his old rock house (that he no longer fits in). I didnt move it over due to me thinking he had no use for it. I put it in and right away he went to swimming and digging and making a "house" around it. All seemed fine until 1pm when the maxi-jet 900 came on... started darting and hit is head. Will he get use to this tank? is this common? I cant keep him in the 55g forever so its gonna happen one way or another. He is hiding again and all white. I think I'll leave the Maxi's off for a week or so. He jumps when the t5 lights on the tank come on too. he is use to a dull t8 in his old tank. I just want him to be happy... any tips to ease this process? advice?

FYI this is not his permanent home. He is my GF's fish and 8in. I didnt want to put the 1.5-2 in festaes in a 6' tank right now I'm letting them grow out a bit in the 55 and im guessing by the time the red devil outgrows this 12" wide tank they will be bigger and can put in the 90 and him back into the 16" wide 55 until my girlfriend coughs over the money to get him a 75g to 90g. I can find a good deal on here and my girlfriend has been working and can afford the tank soon. When the Festae get some size on them and pair up I'm gonna get them a 180. I just have no need of buying that big tank atm because they are slow growers. Didnt want you to read these tank sizes and give me a bunch of comments about these fish getting bigger. I know they are growing and have the money to upgrade =) when the time comes.

PS he isn't afraid of me either, when i go near the tank he doesn't run. can put my finger up to him and he doesn't run. Any little noise in the tank and he about has a heart attack. I'm starting to think he is either weak willed or very smart.
(Moved him in on Sunday and it is now Wednesday)
 
It sounds like the tank doesn't have enough cover for it to feel comfortable in. Put some things in the tank it can hide in/behind if it gets nervious. The Maxi-jets comming on scared it so that was a normal reaction, I don't think you need all that current anyway. The T-5's might be too bright if it's used to a dimmer tank.
 
It can take weeks for fish to get used to their new environment... I've had *adult* fish traumatized after being netted for months.

Just turn off the lights for a few days and let him rest without bothering him too much, oh and make sure your heater is the right temperature and the water parameters are as good as possible.
 
Thanks for the replies, I will turn of the lights. He now has more cover. His water is at 80 just like his previous tank. Maxi-jets are off.

I have to bother him with a water change today though... Its wednesday...lol neither me or him has a choice in the matter. If i break schedule once i have the tendency to keep breaking it.
 
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