Why is Synspillium very inactive?

[fahaka30331]

I have had my synspillium for almost a year 4 inches now ten he is so inactive still skittish and I put some tetras in with him and still the same I am thinking of trading him. Have any one else experienced this with synspillium?
75 gallon and feed him nls

 

[FishKing5]

I have had my synspillium for almost a year 4 inches now ten he is so inactive still skittish and I put some tetras in with him and still the same I am thinking of trading him. Have any one else experienced this with synspillium?
75 gallon and feed him nls

Seems quite strange that he's only 4 inches with you having him for a year now. He should be pushing like 9 inches by now. Does he eat when you feed? Have you checked your water parameters for nitrates and ammonia? Have you seen what his poop looks like. Not really much info you provided to get a good guess on what's going on

 

[fahaka30331]

Seems quite strange that he's only 4 inches with you having him for a year now. He should be pushing like 9 inches by now. Does he eat when you feed? Have you checked your water parameters for nitrates and ammonia? Have you seen what his poop looks like. Not really much info you provided to get a good guess on what's going on

Well he is really like 9.5 I said ten but to be exact so he is growing and he do eat but he still seem skittish and like to just chill in a pot or behind a rock. He go absolutely nuts when I try to net him and lay on his side like he about to die for about an hour but gets right back to just chilling and slow swimming

 

[jeaninel]

Hmmm yes, that does seem strange. Synspillum I've vhad have always been fast growers and very outgoing whether kept single or in a group. The three I have now have grown from 2" to about 7" in 7 months. The are huge piggies and constantly begging at the glass lol. As stated above provide more info on what you feed, how often you do water changes, water parameters and post a pic if you can.

 

[jeaninel]

Oops, I see you posted he is actually 10". Growth seems good but skittish part, not sure what's going on there. Could be just a shy one. But post a pic and other info as far as water parameters and tank maintenance etc.

 

[fahaka30331]

Oops, I see you posted he is actually 10". Growth seems good but skittish part, not sure what's going on there. Could be just a shy one. But post a pic and other info as far as water parameters and tank maintenance etc.

I do over fifty percent water change per week I will get a pic in the am he near a window with natural light ...now one thing is I am at work often and doing research so I don't get to spend much time in front of the tank sometimes only for feeding. My Midas is pretty out going but she lived in a separate tank.should I get the synspillium a female?

 

[jonclark96]

I've found that some cichlids, that if they are the only fish in the tank, can be reclusive and always hiding. Some dithers usually help. I've got a pair of severums that are super skittish even after having them for almost a year. They rarely come out unless I feed them. Some fish are just that way.

 

[tiger15]

Syn are by nature a shy fish and is a bad choice to be kept solo. The larger it gets, the more paranoid and skittish it becomes. They are best to be kept in a group or with other large CA in a large tank so they will interact with one and another to take out the shyness. Dither fish that don't challenge it won't work.

 

[duanes]

A 10 " syspillum in a 75 gal, is like keeping it in a puddle. Or keeping a Great Dane in a bathroom 24/7.
What options does it have before running into a wall.?

 

[ragin_cajun]

That doesn't sound out of character for a Synspilum to me. Even the aversion to netting.

I've noticed little fish can be netted and moved to a new tank, and they act like nothing ever happened. 8-10 inch fish, as they get closer to adulthood, seem to have more trouble with netting and moving to a new tank. They seem to be more traumatized by the whole experience.