Can a bright colored substrate such as aragonite sand, cause central american cichlids to be NON-active or hide? Even with the light on the lowest setting?
Substrate Making Cichlids Stressed?
- Thread starter Roger Mcfish
- Start date
How long have you had the cichlids?
Do you have the light on a automatic timer?
Less than a year. I manually control the lights and stay on for about 4 hours a day. I work a 2nd shift so lights don't stay on long at all
I suggest putting the lights on a timer believe me it will help with the hiding behavior. They will get adjusted to the timer.
Electric blue Texas, salvini, jack dempsey, female cuban and black belt. All rather small from 3-5 inches in them. Had dithers in there before but they had my cichlids pushed to one side of the tank
Cichlids can be effected if substrate it too light to or too dark, if substrate leaves them exposed they will feel vulnerable, if its dark they will stick out like a sore thumb to predators.
Different cichlids use substrate depending of topography differently.
One size doesn't fit all.
Most need to fit in, or die.
Many things factor in.
Turbidity, water color, depth, shadow, are all factors to species selection, and determine whether a fish survives or not.
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Most cichils I catch need neutral substrate, or they stand out like banners to predators.
Different cichlids use substrate depending of topography differently.
One size doesn't fit all.
Most need to fit in, or die.
Many things factor in.
Turbidity, water color, depth, shadow, are all factors to species selection, and determine whether a fish survives or not.
, , Most cichils I catch need neutral substrate, or they stand out like banners to predators.
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If you don't have live plants 4-5 hours would be fine.
This what Herichthy is like from the top..
This from the side. in natural light from the side.
There are situations for each geographical for species.
This from the side. in natural light from the side.
There are situations for each geographical for species.