Scared Severum

[faulkfan]

Hello, I am new here and I have a small problem that maybe someone could help me with. I set up a 55 gallon tank about 1 month ago. I currently have 1 juvenile blue acara, 1 juvenile gold severum, 1 catfish, and another severum with stripes who is a little bit older then the other juveniles. I have silk plants, a rock cave, and some other random hiding spots in the tank, 3 filters, and I do weekly 25% water changes.

The striped severum is very scared of the tank light. Whenever I try and turn the tank light on, he will hide in the top corner by the filter and turn darker then normal. When I turn the light off, he will come back down and act normal. I don't want to stress him out so I keep the light off. The other fish don't seem to be bothered by the light at all. Do you think I should get a bulb that isn't so bright? Or perhaps a colored light? I have hiding places such as a rock cave and a log and there is silk plants around the tank but he just goes right up by the filter.

Thanks for any help.

gold severum and blue acara

Scared severum

 

[vfc]

You may want to try a different background. I had a blue background on my one 75G. My BP was hiding like your severum. When I switched it to a dense plant background, he immediately came out.

I moved the blue background to my other 75G, and the Frontosas in that tank started hiding. I replaced it with a large rock background and they came back out.

I think the light reflection from a solid light-colored background make fish uneasy. Somehow the fake natural background seems to give them a sense of security. Maybe they think then can escape into the plants/rocks if threatened.

 

[faulkfan]

Thanks! I will have to try that. I have no background on my tank, right now it's just my pink wall and a fat head.

 

[bob965]

You can try some floating plants, or shield part of your light with foil so it's not so bright.

 

[faulkfan]

You can try some floating plants, or shield part of your light with foil so it's not so bright.

What exactly do I do with the foil? Sorry, I am pretty new at fish stuff

 

[SeaweedPimp]

Well you dont have to be an aquarist expert to wrap tin foil around your lighting fixture to block some light. just wrap it around and cut small holes for light or just cover one half whatever you want. just make sure it doesnt touch the socket. Pinch it at the top and use a baby pin or something of the sort to hold it together. I wouldnt use tape or glue.

 

[Sab_Fan]

before going too nuts with tin foil - - which is an interesting idea, and I think it could work - - first go back to your earlier thought that maybe you are using too bright of a bulb . . .

there are a large variety of bulbs you can use, and some are just flat-out too bright for some cichlids . . . take a look at the bulb and see what it says (brand-name, wattage, size, etc.) and let us know and maybe someone can suggest a better alternative