Replaced my lava rocks was a good idea

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Spiritofthesoul

Spiritofthesoul

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Dec 3, 2010
4,692
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Singapore
My ornate is a real timid guy. Everytime i switch on the light, he would freak out. The reaction was almost instantaneous. And he would keep banging his head against the walls and rubbing his head against anything in the tank.

At first i thought it was the other bichirs who are bothering him so I moved 2 of my senegals into my other tank. But he was still freaking out

The lava rocks in my tank prove to be damaging as he rubs his nostrils on them and due to the rough edges, his nostril are now damaged.

I got so pissed that I went to school to collect a few smooth pebbles and took out the lava rocks. My ornate still freaks out so I try to minimize the time the lights are on. But at least now his nostrils ain't injured as the pebbles are smooth. He even lie on one huge pebble like a lion basking on a rock.

Before
162847_1619546739999_1576341764_1420331_2440374_n.jpg


After
165101_1645592911137_1576341764_1485971_3826917_n.jpg
 
He just freaks out becuz on sec its nite then its day, i wud recommend that you leave your tank light on for a few hrs everyday so he gets use to it. I leave my lights on during the day and put the off before i got to sleep, my fish still get abit freaked out when i put the light on in the early mornings but the soon settel down. Give the ornate time to settel in.
 
My light is on through the whole night, until I leave for school. Anyway, as soon as your ornate bichir gets used to the lighting, I believe that such behaviour should change, sooner or later.
 
NightStorm;4789791; said:
I like your tank setup.

What kind of substrate is that? Thx.
Click to expand...

Classica Natural riverl gravel. Its almost as fine as sand but larger

JamesF;4790833; said:
Try turning on a bright light in the room before hand. That way the tank is brighter for a few minutes before the lights come on.
Click to expand...

Ok im gonna try that. Trying to find those light with adjustable knobs to control intensity. that way i can gradually increase the amount of light instead of on nuke everything onto him at one go.
 
The other thing you could try is making sure he has some hiding spots that he can get most of his body into. That way he'll still feel safe when you turn on the lights.
I can't really tell from the picture, but your tank looks like most of the driftwood is solid with no hollows. Some larger plants that will go to the surface and run across it for a way, or some floating plants to reduce the light could also help.
 
Yah the drift woods are solid. There is a large opening in one of them but the delhezi has already claimed it. Trying to get some artifical floating plants here, but I cant seem to find.

Idk if they sell classica gravel in USA, but i found a link for it
http://www.aquariumsindia.com/productlisting.php?catid=25
 
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