Scared fish

[Cookie*]

I had a Jack Dempsey in a tank in my bedroom that was very similar. Before the fish died after having him for 8 months, he would still hide just about all the time. My next fish (a Chocolate cichlid) was completely opposite to start, but started hiding once I rearranged the tank and made a new cave.

In your case, I think I would remove some of the cover temporarily (or place it to where they cannot get behind it). You do want to leave them with some cover, but cut back what you have and let them develop a safe feeling of being out in the open first. Then try and put stuff back to where you feel it looks best in the tank. If they go back to hiding a lot again, try moving the cover around to different spots and maybe make one of the safe spots exposed to the front glass (like a piece of driftwood leaned against the front glass, creating a safe-zone exposed to the front).

I hope it works out for you, you have some nice stock picked for the tank. I think you will find CA/SA cichlids 10x better than African cichlids as well. The personality differences are vast, the CA/SA cichlids are much more personable. I am glad to see you have a Oscar, too, they tend to have the best personality of CA/SA cichlids (gentle giants). Assuming all your stock gets to full size, you will have a large bio-load in there as well. You will be doing a lot of water changes to keep your nitrates down, just a heads up.

 

[JanC]

Thx for the help guys!

Because im going out now, its newyear in 6 hours here, I will adjust the things tomorrow.

And like some of u said, it is the JD who scares em all, shes the first one that goes hiding, the others follow her.

Happy newyear!

 

[Cookie*]

I would think about removing/moving some cover around first and play with the lights. If all that does not work, I would get rid of the JD.

Happy New Year to you too!

 

[Cichlidholic]

You might want to also add some dither fish in there like giant danios or silver dollars. Having fish swim around out in the open can sometimes liven up the tank and make the skittish fish more comfortable.

The advice above is also good - just giving you more options to try.

 

[Jc1119]

You might want to also add some dither fish in there like giant danios or silver dollars. Having fish swim around out in the open can sometimes liven up the tank and make the skittish fish more comfortable.

The advice above is also good - just giving you more options to try.

This has worked well for me. I actually started with 9 large tiger barbs(2") and added the cichlids after they had been in the tank for 3 years or so. Strangely, I've had the opposite experience with cover in the tank. The more I put in, the more my fish stay out in plain sight. The less I have, the more they hide. I'm currently housing a jack Dempsey, salvini, firemouth and rainbow shark with the barbs and I have 7 large pieces if wood in with them, two that extend all the way to the waters surface. My fish stay out mostly, but if they do hide there are plenty of options, so they mostly stay visible.

 

[hamfist]

I've had the opposite experience with cover in the tank. The more I put in, the more my fish stay out in plain sight. The less I have, the more they hide.

As a general principle, that is what I have found too. I suppose it gives them confidence knowing that they can shoot into all sorts of cover instanty if the need arises. Once they then get that confidence, the need for shelter doesn't seem so important.

 

[repella42]

+2 to everything that has been said. Also, once they attribute you to food they get less skiddish. I feed on a specific schedule and ritual. Now I can't open a cupboard, and look at them at the same time without them getting excited. Rearranging is always a good idea to.

 

[JanC]

Ok, well I decided to go far a fast school fish, +-10 of them. I was thinking about Hemigrammus bleheri (Rummynose Tetra).

Or anyone got another proposition? I would like to have a small school fish, something that doesnt get too big. They should be fast also and not too expensive, because they might get eaten.

If that didnt help, ill take some cover out, or rearrange things, so they cant get behind something.

When I see all these things didnt help, I will prolly have to remove the JD.

 

[JanC]

Decided I couldnt wait, before I have a school fish, so I changed the wood pieces on the left. I put 1 up to the glass, closing the gap, where they were hiding, the other piece is down in the sand. They are all 4 swimming at the right side wood now. I dont wanna take out the wood, because of the bacteria that might be on it.

The fish were very scared when I started to change their home.
I can see them sit now, I hope they get used to it soon.


How long should I wait before adjusting the wood in the normal position? 1 month?
And is Hemigrammus bleheri (Rummynose Tetra) a good school fish that could survive a few months before get eaten?

 

[Jc1119]

At this point you might just have to wait and see. I typically qt my new fish for about a week before introducing them to the main tank and it usually takes about 5-7 days after that for them to settle in. You're right at about the 2 week mark so as stated above, keep your feeding schedule the same and they should start coming around for that at the least. I change some of my decor around at each water change- nothing radical unless I notice alot of torn fins and then I change everything from one side to the other.

Rummynose are an interesting choice. Not very tough fish so I'd say they would be a try and see. In a tank that size, they should be ok, but the general rule with dithers is to make sure they are big enough and fast enough to not get harassed toomuch ( or eaten) My tiger barbs were just a bunch of punks to begin with and I actually think they welcomed the new aggressive tankmates. The rummys would make a beautiful display, but are typically mixed with more docile cichlids like angels and discus. Any dithers should help with your cichlids confidence though. Good luck