What can I do?

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Gatorxxx420

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 14, 2010
914
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Taylor, Mi
I have 2 female BGJD's, 1 male BGJD and 1 male EBJD. The males are roughly 5-6 inches. The females are about 4's. For the longest time they'd come to the glass showing off for me and such, now it seems like they just want to run for the hills and hide. Other than when the lights are completely out, which I see them swimming around the tank in the shadows.

I've taken my lights out and wrapped electric tape around them like a candy cane to dim the lighting, that didn't help, I've added plants, other things for them to try and feel more comfortable. But as soon as I flip the lights on they scatter. They are real skittish anymore, and it's frustrating me. They're beautiful fish, but it's getting to the point where I'm considering getting rid of them. What's the point of having nice fish if I can't look at them?

The only 2 things I could think of that are the cause, is my nephews run in my room and usually have something in their hands. Which usually results in the fish scattering all over the tank to hide. The other one is, that they could be sick with somethng. Any suggestions other than adding more stuff to the tank?
 
what are your water parameters? but if everything else is the same as usual and the only thing thats changed is your nephew running around, then seems to me like he has them spooked, try having him be calmer around the tank or have him spend more time around the tank so they get used to him
 
I've pretty much told them they can't come in here unless they're gonna sit on the bed and behave. I just thought of another possible culprit, I noticed my heater had stopped working. I unplugged it and removed it, saw that water had somehow leaked inside and some of the stuff was a little rusty. I did a near 50% change on the tank, perhaps there was something in that heater contaminating the water? After the WC the EBJD started acting similar to how he was before. As I said in another threat, he's anything but typical of EBJD's, he can be an a**hole. But he's not generally shy. Especially if he thinks I'm gonna feed him. The other 2 are pretty hyper now as well.
 
Well it kind of sounds like it's working out BUT any JD are shy skittish fish until they get big. That is their nature. Usually dithers help them feel more secure. But they are very uptight skittish fish, I love JD's but that is the one thing I don't like about them. Just wait until they grow up, then they won't be so skittish, make sure you have lots of hiding spots.
 
try a cave or two and some silver dollar.
 
its just the personality of the fish... i don't complain when my cats hide all day...
 
Nine times out of ten, when a customer tells me of a similiar problem, I find the tank has elevated levels of nitrate. Sizeable water changes will significantly reduce nitrate levels, while boosting the electrolytes (mineral content) of the water. This will often result in healthier and less skittish fish.
 
ok yeah sounds to me like there was some kind of stray current or something in the tank. now that you have corrected it they should return to normal

manlyfish and chicklette, that would be true if they were young and if they had always been like that but when mature fish suddenly start acting different from how they have been the entire time he has had them then that definitely means that something has changed and needs to be addressed
 
It's not water parameters, as I tested them 3-4 hours after the waterchange. pH was 7.6 where it always is, NitrItes were 0 ppm, Ammonia was 0 ppm and NitrAtes were 0 ppm.

This was something that seemed to come on slowly, it's probably a combination of things related to that heater and my nephews running in here at the tank with stuff in their hands.

These fish used to tear a path to the glass when I'd come in, especially if they thought I'd feed em. As for dithers, I'd rather use Bala Sharks. When I change over to a natural set up, I plan to use some live plants and SD's are notorious for eating the plants.

http://www.youtube.com/user/GaToRxxx420

That's them, and how they typically act. The only one I didn't raise was the EBJD, bought him at a LFS at 5"s or so for 35. He was the most dominant and aggressive one of the bunch in the tank. My 2 littles ones died :(
 
Nitrates = 0 is pretty much impossible in a cycled tank -- nothing except water changes or plants will remove nitrates so you almost always have some amount present. Any chance you're missing a step on your test?

To make your fish more comfortable, I would suggest the following:
- change to a darker substrate
- add a background -- maybe even coverings on the sides
- look at getting a larger tank maybe....how big is your current one?

You could also try feeding a more varied diet (not more food, but different types of food) to get them more interested in what you're doing....

Good luck!
 
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