I got 2 convicts from my lfs almost a week ago. (m/f) the tank is beside my sofa where i sit and watch tv at night. The thing is they are aways hiding and dont even come out when i put food in, they wait till it floats near the cave run out and grab some and go back again. If they do come out as soon as i move they go back to hiding. Should i move my tank to somewhere i would bother them less. i got them to breed but the way they are acting i doubt this will happen. I have alot plants and hiding places in tank
2007-07-22 04:57:46 · 9 answers · asked by Paul 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
I think som1 owned the fish before me as the guy had them bagged alrdy. when i asked for a pair he said they all 2 young to tell then 5 min later he said he had a breeding pair that had just come in.
2007-07-22 05:00:07 · update #1
Would it help if i left the tank light out?
2007-07-22 05:25:19 · update #2
Id leave the tank where it is, to move it you will need to empty and this will only stress the fish more and solve nothing.
They just need time to adjust to their new home.
Cichlids like to hide in caves and things its like their home and as people already have said they will spend alot of time there. If you remove the cave they are gonna feel even more insecure and get stressed out if they have nowhere to hide.
They will get used to you and breed in their own time.
Good luck
2007-07-23 12:30:05 · answer #1 · answered by Pete 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like they might already be breeding. They are just protecting the eggs or fry (I don't know how long this has gone on). Just let them be, get them a good sinking Cichlid pellet, drop it right in front of the cave, and they will be fine. If you can, at night while the fish are in a trance-like state, try to shine a very low powered light into the cave and see if you see any fry or eggs. Just keep the lights on a stable cycle, turn them on at the same time every day, turn them off at the same time every day. For a better shot at breeding, take a flower pot (about 4 inches deep), boil it, let it cool, put it in the tank and turn it on its side and push gravel into the bottom of the sideways pot (so you have a gravel carpet). Good luck!
Nosoop4u
2007-07-22 05:50:37 · answer #2 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just give them time. They will be fine. They need some time to adjust to their new environment. By a couple days or so you should see them start to interact more. But, dont be concerned, cichlids like caves and crevises to hide in. They will spend alot of time in there. Its like their home. Its not unusual. You dont need to put a blanket over the tank. The fish will need some time to get used to humans walking up to the tank or coming around, they will usually hide at first, but after you start feeding them, they will incorporate you with food, so they will be more prone to coming out and up to the glass. You want them to get comfortable with their surroundings in and out of the tank. Also to get comfortable with people walking around and not feeling threatened all the time. Eventually u will notice them following you around to the side of the tank you are on. My fish watch me all the time.
Spawning is hard to put a time frame on. Just make sure you have flat rocks or smooth surfaces for them to lay their eggs on. Once they get comfortable with their new home and eachother you wont be able to stop them from spawning. Just give them time, you cant rush nature
2007-07-22 05:07:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Everything has changed for them, so just pe patient and let them get used to you and the new tank. Keep feeding them and soon enough they'll be coming to the top whenever you are nearby. Removing the security of their cave is a good way to force them to come out, and also stress them out.
2007-07-22 05:04:33 · answer #4 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
They need time to adjust to their new surroundings
You're suppose to turn the light off for 12-14 hours at night and leave it on for 10-12 hours during the day
Hope that helps
Good luck
EB
2007-07-22 12:44:38 · answer #5 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally would do some research before you remove the cave i know other chiclids like caves here is one link at least i will add more if i have time
2007-07-22 05:30:39 · answer #6 · answered by Me 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Try taking away the cave and putting in a silk plant or two instead.
2007-07-22 05:03:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
IN PAST LIFE THEY WERE PIRATES
2007-07-22 08:52:47 · answer #8 · answered by ken p 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think mi girlfriend has been hiding fish for some time now
2007-07-22 05:16:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋