I have about a 5 to 6 inch dovi and he won't ever come out of hiding and when I take out the stuff to hid behind he just goes to the too far corners what should I do so he can be a little more active and not as scared all the time
What should I do?
- Thread starter Tick dancing
- Start date
I've owned many cichlids, although not a dovii. So this is a general response to cichlids.
Hiding is a natural trait that evolved in animals that feel threatened and is useful to avoid predation. And some fish will always hide until they reach a certain size or under certain conditions like too much light or too little cover.
Removing hiding spaces only increases stress and the instinctive need to escape. Fish look for places where they can escape when under threat and now that's the upper corner of the tank. If you want it to not hide, add back cover (plants, rocks and caves), reduce the lighting, keep the tank out of heavy traffic areas, add some less fearful fish, or wait. Or some combination of those.
Hiding is a natural trait that evolved in animals that feel threatened and is useful to avoid predation. And some fish will always hide until they reach a certain size or under certain conditions like too much light or too little cover.
Removing hiding spaces only increases stress and the instinctive need to escape. Fish look for places where they can escape when under threat and now that's the upper corner of the tank. If you want it to not hide, add back cover (plants, rocks and caves), reduce the lighting, keep the tank out of heavy traffic areas, add some less fearful fish, or wait. Or some combination of those.
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I was thinking adding some tinfoils to kind of bring him out a bit more and I should probably put some stuff back in?
That tank is too small for tinfoils which need a large group (preferably 5+) and get huge. A group of smaller schooling fish might help. (Ones preferable that won't be eaten.)
As I've said, never kept a Dovii, so I can't recommend which new fish, but more cover and at least one fish that will swim in the open will probably help a lot.
As I've said, never kept a Dovii, so I can't recommend which new fish, but more cover and at least one fish that will swim in the open will probably help a lot.
I'm going to rescind my suggestion on dithers. Sounds like that may not work. But these threads will give you some ideas I think.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/normal-dovii-behavior.685048/#post-7714253
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/dovii-dithers.659654/page-2
Basically, dithers can be a dicey choice. I'd go for adding a lot more cover and seeing how that works.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/normal-dovii-behavior.685048/#post-7714253
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/dovii-dithers.659654/page-2
Basically, dithers can be a dicey choice. I'd go for adding a lot more cover and seeing how that works.
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If you do decide to add some dither fish I'd strongly suggest you quarantine them for at least a couple weeks. In fact, in this case I'd just go ahead and treat the fish whether or not they displayed any symptoms because they're likely to be eaten by your dovii anyway.
Drstrangelove
gave some good advice. The trick is to make the fish feel comfortable. Though honestly, young dovii are shy fish. He may not become less fearful until he is 12"+. I have not kept dovii in my tanks at home but cared for them when I worked in LFS's when I was younger. The small ones were always shy. Small, for dovii, is anything under a foot long.Thankfully they do grow quickly. You say you will upgrade eventually, that is good that you understand he will need a bigger tank. I would expect him to grow an inch per month. So you would need to get him a larger tank within the next six months, since a 55 is only 12" wide. Do you have plans to upgrade that quickly? I would recommend upgrading straight to the 180+ gallon tank he will need, playing the "upgrade game" of slightly larger tanks with dovii is not really worth it, since they grow so quickly.
In the short term, I would recommend getting him some plants, etc. and cover in the tank, and try some giant danios or small-ish silver dollars for dithers. They may be eaten, but they could help him feel safer in the meantime. Quarantining the dithers is a good idea of course.
Best of luck
I suggest you do a few things. This is general advice for shy fish I have had in the past which has helped tremendously.
1. dim lighting
2. lots of caves / cover
3. floating plants, can be real (better) or plastic
4. keep the flow on the calmer side
5. temps in the upper range
6. no aggressive tank mates or fast moving darty type ones
7. spend lots of time in front of the tank watching and letting him get used to you
8. dither fish are always good but make sure to quarantine first and make sure your fish can't eat thing or they cant harm your dovii
Give him some time once you make the changes. Most times we are not patient enough with our animals and expect a lot quickly. I am also guilty of this.
Keep us updated!
1. dim lighting
2. lots of caves / cover
3. floating plants, can be real (better) or plastic
4. keep the flow on the calmer side
5. temps in the upper range
6. no aggressive tank mates or fast moving darty type ones
7. spend lots of time in front of the tank watching and letting him get used to you
8. dither fish are always good but make sure to quarantine first and make sure your fish can't eat thing or they cant harm your dovii
Give him some time once you make the changes. Most times we are not patient enough with our animals and expect a lot quickly. I am also guilty of this.
Keep us updated!