Why is Synspillium very inactive?
- Thread starter fahaka30331
- Start date
A 75 is large enough to house a similar size Midas or FH, but not a syn. The difference is personality. A shy fish is paranoid being alone, and feel safe only in a group. You can keep a syn in a 200 alone, and he will still hide at a corner. A Midas or FH, on the other hand, becomes more aggressive and attack its reflection if there are no tankmates for target.
I of course don't know what your decor is, but in most cases in order for a fish to feel comfortable it needs cover. In nature overhanging vegetation, fallen logs, rocks, and shade help make cichlids feel comfortable. I just took river cruise in Colombia, in open sunny areas there were never any fish to be seen, only the ones being swallowed by birds.The only place cichlids were found is near the banks under foliage or other cover.
In the open areas, it was like a barren fish less desert.
In the open areas, it was like a barren fish less desert.
Would a 72x18x25 house the synspillium a Midas and a few smaller fish for life or should I go for the 180 72x24x24?
Bigger is always better. The 24" width on the 180 is really nice. If you can I would go for the 180 although I kept mine in a 150 which is 72"x18" with some other tank mates.
Might as well go 180. As others have said, 75 is too small. Once he's in a bigger tank you can throw in some Thorichthys and dithers and that should help him come out of his shell a bit more.
How are the water parameters? What's the decor like?
Also, and this is strictly from my own personal experience, all of the wild-caught fish I've owned and raised have always been more shy than any of the tank-raised fish I've had. This may seem fairly obvious, as the fish aren't used to being in a box with people staring in at them.
It can also be that if the tank is in a low-traffic area, the fish just isn't used to people. Putting in some facetime and sitting in front of the tank for a while each day could also help him warm up to people a bit more.
Getting them to hand-feed can also help him feel more at home and counteract his shy demeanor.
It can also be that if the tank is in a low-traffic area, the fish just isn't used to people. Putting in some facetime and sitting in front of the tank for a while each day could also help him warm up to people a bit more.
Getting them to hand-feed can also help him feel more at home and counteract his shy demeanor.
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