Skittish parachromis, continued

[Hybridfish7]

Same multifasciatus (former freddy) as before.
So he's about 6.5", maybe 7, still skittish, used to come out for food and take food from my hands, sulks a lot, I'm assuming he's either trying to camouflage or ambush something, or both.

Now he just takes his food and goes back to hiding, if he eats at all. I haven't seen him eat in a week. I see him sitting in the front of the tank a lot more, but not in his usual camouflaged colors, now he's almost black. Not losing any weight, but I have seen him scratch.

At a glance I don't see anything wrong with him, there shouldn't be. Only recent changes to the tank have been the fact that I've had the hob off for a week, and missed a waterchange. Any ideas?

 

[Joshuakahan]

Same multifasciatus (former freddy) as before.
So he's about 6.5", maybe 7, still skittish, used to come out for food and take food from my hands, sulks a lot, I'm assuming he's either trying to camouflage or ambush something, or both.

Now he just takes his food and goes back to hiding, if he eats at all. I haven't seen him eat in a week. I see him sitting in the front of the tank a lot more, but not in his usual camouflaged colors, now he's almost black. Not losing any weight, but I have seen him scratch.

At a glance I don't see anything wrong with him, there shouldn't be. Only recent changes to the tank have been the fact that I've had the hob off for a week, and missed a waterchange. Any ideas?

I actually had a hemichromis frempongi do this same exact thing. I’m not sure why, but i gave him to someone and it stopped.

 

[Hybridfish7]

I actually had a hemichromis frempongi do this same exact thing. I’m not sure why, but i gave him to someone and it stopped.

I like my freddy and all, but I will admit if he gets to his full size and doesn't stop being skittish I'll probably end up rehoming him. I get that he's supposed to be an ambush predator and all, but if he's darting under a log or to the back of the tank every time I make a sudden movement in front of the tank, for the rest of his life, I am not sure I'd want to allocate tank space to him.

I do notice some blemishes on his scales however.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Seems like it was just a phase. I overguestimated his size before, he was probably a little over 6" when I made that post. Now he's actually 7, and active. Floating plants seemed to have done the trick, he likes sitting under them and trying to ambush... Pellets.

 

[duanes]

Most all young Parachromis at 8" or less are easy prey for even small fish eating birds, so instinctuallyare not open swimmers.
When larger they get more bold, but they don't lose that instinctual fear of being scooped up from above just because they are in a tank.

The shot above was taken in their natural habitat.