Spooking fish & viewing windows

[Andyroo]

Is it correct to suggest that more "spook'able" fish are going to be more comfortable and/or less likely to self-injure in a tank with a single viewing window -vs- an all-glass/acrylic aquarium?

Are they blindly dashing about, or actively trying to swim away through glass?
(impacting decorations notwithstanding)

 

[twentyleagues]

Is it correct to suggest that more "spook'able" fish are going to be more comfortable and/or less likely to self-injure in a tank with a single viewing window -vs- an all-glass/acrylic aquarium?

Are they blindly dashing about, or actively trying to swim away through glass?
(impacting decorations notwithstanding)

I'd say it's a bit of both. I've noticed that some fish I've kept that have been known to be skittish/ jumpers/darters are better with little to no view of the outside. I've also found that while it helps some fish it makes other worse for being startled, polys in particular.

 

[esoxlucius]

I've had skittish fish in an all glass tank (180), and when moved to my 360 fibreglass tank with a single viewing panel their behaviour changed literally immediately.

And i'm talking Bala sharks and Chalceus. On the skittish scale these fish are right up there. I kid you not, i can walk right in front of my 360 now and my balas don't even twitch. I believe it is a huge factor regarding skittish fish.

it makes complete sense really. A single viewing panel will mean a reduction in the amount of movement/shadows that the fish can see. As a result they feel safer.

That's my experience anyway.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

This thread has made me wonder about something. Esox, do you think a tank in an alcove (so movement only occurs at the front panel) but with no covered viewing panels would reduce the skittishness of chalceus in any amount?
That's where my future chalceus will live, and I'd hate to have it spook to the point of jumping or killing itself because of uncovered panels.

 

[esoxlucius]

This thread has made me wonder about something. Esox, do you think a tank in an alcove (so movement only occurs at the front panel) but with no covered viewing panels would reduce the skittishness of chalceus in any amount?
That's where my future chalceus will live, and I'd hate to have it spook to the point of jumping or killing itself because of uncovered panels.

It may help. There are so many other factors though too. Decor, tank size, outside traffic, lighting, tank mates, I'd also add age of fish too, a young fish may be more prone to freaking out than an older fish?

I'll also add that the interior of my fibreglass tank is matt black. There aren't any plants either so my lighting is quite weak too.

But each situation, and the experience of each hobbyist will vary. I think, if memory serves me, DMD123 has huge balas in an all glass tank and his are calm, so go figure, lol.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Decor is the following: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...-second-loach-tank.743237/page-2#post-8399174
Not sure how that may affect skittishness.

Outside traffic very minimal. It's in a basement.

Lighting will probably be medium, with darkness outside the tank at all times because no sunlight reaches the basement.

Tank mates of the chalceus are as written in my signature. I asked yesterday in the 'Tell me about the pink tail chalceus' thread and was told it likely wouldn't be a problem, but I'd like to hear what you think.

Age will probably be young, I can't find any for sale much bigger than about 9 cm.

Lol, that's totally unexpected. I hope I'm similarly lucky.

 

[DMD123]

Ive heard others comment about how balas can be skittish and dart around but Ive only had a problem with that once and it was with a newly introduced fish. It got spooked during a water change and hit something hard and died. My current stock are in a high traffic area in the living room and are just used to activity so they dont even twitch. This includes visits from the grandkids who are much too young to even be respectful of them. Yet no issues, calm as can be.


Now my garage tanks are another story… The fish out there are much more skittish and spook. Likely due to the fact there is low foot traffic and many are wild caught like my bumblebee Oscar , red wolf fish, hairy puffer, or even F1 that had come from outdoor farm like my trimac.

To me its more of how used to movement outside the tank as opposed to the tank itself that effect the fish, but everyone’s experience is different.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Movement outside the tank is definitely a good one. I'll have to be mindful of the amount of time I spend down in the basement, making sure I spend as much as I can each day to get the chalceus (and for that matter, all the fish) used to it.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I'd say the fish that live by eye sight don't usually bash opaque walls. Bashing the walls is usually done by fish that live by taste/smell.

Another factor is the degree of fear. The stronger the fear response, the less discriminating a fish might be about the direction and speed of fleeing.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Movement outside the tank is definitely a good one. I'll have to be mindful of the amount of time I spend down in the basement, making sure I spend as much as I can each day to get the chalceus (and for that matter, all the fish) used to it.

Little late, but I've finally figured something out. With any luck, this will also be of help to others who need to socialize their fish to movement.

My schedule permits a socialization walk in front of that tank for 7 minutes every 23 minutes. DMD123 , I understand if you're not able to answer this (since living room traffic isn't often something kept track of), but would you say your living room gets a similar amount of traffic to that? More? Less?
However much it is, it's definitely the right amount given how unafraid your bala sharks are. So I'm hoping to be able to replicate it.