I have been keeping cichlids for many years and never experienced such skittish fish as these 4 Salvinis I have. I can’t approach the tank without them bouncing off the walls. They are between 3-4 inches in a 75 gallon. I Do have many caves and plants for hiding and cover. One reason I have considered is my color scheme between gravel and plants is pretty artificial looking with many blue colors. My water temp is usually around 78. My lights are on a timer, I do regular weekly water changes 30-40% and I feed pretty regular as well. I have had them in this tank for almost a year and got them very tiny. Any thoughts why these fish a so skittish? They have gotten slightly better over time and seem less frightened by me compared to others. I’m wondering what else I can do. I could try keeping the light off I guess.
Skittish Salvini’s
- Thread starter Bearsjfk
- Start date
Harsh, bright light does tend to freak out fish. I can personally attest to this, my discus used to be skittish all the time (doing what your Salvinis are doing), but once I added a ton of plant cover, now they come up to me.
Good suggestion, my light is pretty bright , and could try to get more plants to block it more. Possibly switch to a smaller light as well
Some floating plant cover would definitely help.
Dither fish can help as well, though salvini may not be as friendly with them as some other cichlids.
Keep in mind that they are at that size where they’re prime food for birds and other terrestrial animals, so they’re going to be a bit more skittish right now.
Dither fish can help as well, though salvini may not be as friendly with them as some other cichlids.
Keep in mind that they are at that size where they’re prime food for birds and other terrestrial animals, so they’re going to be a bit more skittish right now.
Buenos Aires Tetras are great dithers. Eventually, if you have a large enough tank, you could possibly do silver dollars and salvinis. But that might be pushing it lol.
For salvini, my dither choice would be the geographically correct Astyanax tetras, the kind they are found in tandem with in nature in Mexico.
They provide movement, and interest, but don't steal the show, from the bright cichlids.
There are others tetras found with them such as Roeboides and Brycon, but they are harder to come by.
Since these tetras get large enough not to be eaten, and are very fast, (in nature) are watched by salvini to judge the threat of danger.
Being so strikingly colorful, salvini seem acutely aware of their own vulnerability, which may contribute to their skittishness in a brightly lit tank, and usually hang out in the shadows of terrestrial and floating vegetation, like water Hyacinth and Nymphea water lilies that provide sufficient cover., and under hanging terrestrial vegetation along the banks
To emulate natural conditions in my cichlid tanks, I like to place terrestrial plants with roots in the water and foliage overhanging the surface of the tank to give skittish cichlids a sense of security. Water lilies are also great at shading, and providing cover.
They provide movement, and interest, but don't steal the show, from the bright cichlids.
There are others tetras found with them such as Roeboides and Brycon, but they are harder to come by.
Since these tetras get large enough not to be eaten, and are very fast, (in nature) are watched by salvini to judge the threat of danger.
Being so strikingly colorful, salvini seem acutely aware of their own vulnerability, which may contribute to their skittishness in a brightly lit tank, and usually hang out in the shadows of terrestrial and floating vegetation, like water Hyacinth and Nymphea water lilies that provide sufficient cover., and under hanging terrestrial vegetation along the banks
To emulate natural conditions in my cichlid tanks, I like to place terrestrial plants with roots in the water and foliage overhanging the surface of the tank to give skittish cichlids a sense of security. Water lilies are also great at shading, and providing cover.
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Thanks everyone for the thoughts. I am going to do something with floating plants to add
more cover. What do you all think the chance of success for some sort of dithers in my 75. Can I create a situation so my dithers aren’t slaughtered?
more cover. What do you all think the chance of success for some sort of dithers in my 75. Can I create a situation so my dithers aren’t slaughtered?
I suggest don't wait until the Salvini mature add them soon but quarantine the dithers first.