I jsut got a few cichlids and they are extremely shy. They are Kribensis and Dwarf Jewel fish, both african cichlids. Thy seems to get along well. have lots of caves and hiding spots but they never come out.. Was it a bad thing to make so many caves? The water condition is perfect for them, I been checking and researching, the pH, temperature, hardness, etc.I turned my light off for yesterday so they won't be as startled. They seem conpletely terrified and will not eat. My dither fish, even though they are active, they only stay on top ad I don't even know if my new cichlids see them. My managed to feed my jewel by holding the fozen blok worm on the chopstick, but not any or my Kribs. They seemed pretty healthy when I got them, though..
Is there anything I can do to help them settle and get used to the environment? Can something be wrong with them or me? I did everything I can but nothing seem to help.. I feel bad.. It's a sad situation :[
Please HELP!!!
thanks very much!
2007-07-02 15:44:24 · 3 answers · asked by Patricia P 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Hi Patricia,
Sounds to me like you are doing everything just fine. Sometimes fish just need some time to settle into thier new home is all. I think you did great to get the water parameters optimal for them, and thats a good start. Cichilds need the rocks and caves out of thier sense of territory and safety. As I am sure you've read and researched, they are aggressive fish, and the rocks and caves help them establish thier boundries.
That you have some "shy" cichilds is not unusual. I had a very beautiful purple/orange peacock that really just wouldn't come out of the back caves for weeks except when I turned the lights off. He was very small though, and there were two pseudotropheus elongatus's in with him among some small community fish. Ok, not the best mix, but this guy just didn't want to come out. He would come out with food around and just go back in. I guess it's just his sense of safety. I do have a 20 a 75 and 180 gallon set up, so naturally they would have been relocated at the appropriate times. When I was establishing my 180, I made a major mistake of letting that peacock share the same tank with my much bigger Dubosi I just bought. The Dubosi was a FINE specimin too, paid like 50.00 for him. Pure bloodline and well kept. A good five inches. He killed my purple peacock in the middle of the night because I totally forgot that the Dubosi had his territory already and saw the other as in invader.
This is really why you want to keep those rocks and caves, as many as you can. Territories are very important to the Africans, and just be patient. Let your new fish just settle in and sooner or later they'll come out more.
JV
2007-07-02 15:54:27 · answer #1 · answered by I am Legend 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give them a few days. Territorial fish like cichlids can often take longer than other fish to settle in and get comfortable.
MM
2007-07-02 22:53:10 · answer #2 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They may just need a few days to get used to the new environment.
2007-07-02 22:52:23 · answer #3 · answered by aeidensmommy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋