strange behavior???

[niqolas619]

Just checking in on here to see if anyone has any insight for me. I've got a 55g with about 12 or so mostly mbunas of various types in there - nothing crazy, just your typical labs, acei, etc. I change about 20-25% of the water about every 5 days, and the water parameters are normal. None of the fish display any kind of physical abnormalities and they're all eating alright. They breed regularly and always eat like normal.

Now on to the slight problem - they seem really skittish. This isn't a huge deal to me, because everything else is normal with them, but it's kinda odd how they sprint and hide behind the rocks and stuff everytime someone walks in front of the tank. Also, sometimes while I'm feeding them, one of them will dart to one side of the tank and hide, which causes all the rest of them to dart and hide.

The only reason I ask about this is because this didn't happen the last time I had cichlids. This tank has been set up for about 8 months now, and they've been behaving this way for about 4 or 5 months. I also read somewhere that this can be an indication of bloat or ich (??? I don't remember which one).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Wimmels]

How do you have your tank aranged?

Fish get skittish when they don't feel safe.

Do you have a light couloured bottom? If so try some darker underground, fish appreciate that.

And this may sound stupid, but if fish can't hide properly they get skittish. Try making more hiding places so that all the fish can hide.(at the same time)

Once fish feel comfortable in the aqaurium, they will show themselves more readily

 

[niqolas619]

Thanks, Wimmles. I have a normal pool sand substrate, so I don't think that's it - but I don't think I have enough hiding places for them. I've thought of this as a problem before, but I haven't gotten around to adding more rock for them. The main problem is that the tank is in my living room where everyone can see it, so I don't wanna just add flower pots and other [IMO] not-so-attractive things for them to hide in. I've got lace rock in there right now for them - probably about 5 or 6 medium to large sized pieces. I live in the city of Chicago, so I can't exactly walk around outside my house and find more rock laying around - but I also don't wanna go to the LFS to pay $15 for a rock.

I've heard of getting rock for cheap at landscaping places, but haven't tried this before. Does anyone know if Home Depot usually has landscaping type rock?

 

[mike dunagan]

they may have some, but they could have some rock that you can use and hide...