cichlids scared of light/shadows

[dgc]

I could use your opinion on how to make my cichlid tank more sociable. They
are very skittish and hide in the extensive rockwork whenever there is
movement in the room. The tank looks empty after they scatter and hide from
the movement.

The room with the tank receives a lot of outside light from large windows
and I am pretty confident this is the primary source of my problem.
Unfortunately, I do not have a better location to put the tank to keep it
from natural light. I am certain the windows cast shadows onto the tank and
the shadow problem is not helped when someone enters the room. The fish
come out and eat and swim at night when the room is dark. They look happy
and healthy whenever the room is dark.

In the archives, I saw people talk about training the fish through feeding.
I am skeptical this will help since my fish's major aversion is movement.
This has been occurring for some time and the fish do not get tormented by
young ones or anything like that.

I saw that someone in the past also suggested water quality as a possibility
but my water parameters look good.

I also saw a suggestion that talked about adding rainbows or zebras into the
tank to help the cichlids be more comfortable. This seems like a neat
option if this were to really work.

I have read that sometimes the fish need to calm down from a traumatic
experience. Fortunately, these fish have been in the same spot, with the
same tank, and same behavior for months and months.

My last resort thought, is to rip out all the rock work and replace it with
rock work that provides a lot of caves that face forward. That way, they
can hide and I can still see them. They are beautiful and I would simply
like to see them more and share their beauty with friends and family.

Some info on my tank
Tank:
46 gallon bow front
lots of rock structures
water parameters good

fish:
3 yellow labs
2 cobalts
2 red zebras
1 demasoni
1 albino bristlenose

plants:
anubias nana (small)
java fern (small)


Thank you all in advance. I know this post got long but I appreciate your
perspective.

dgc

[Paul]

as far as I know the accepted method is that that you have already proposed,
the use of dither fish, such as Australian rainbows.


dgc wrote in message ...
>I could use your opinion on how to make my cichlid tank more sociable.
They
>are very skittish and hide in the extensive rockwork whenever there is
>movement in the room. The tank looks empty after they scatter and hide
from
>the movement.
>
>The room with the tank receives a lot of outside light from large windows
>and I am pretty confident this is the primary source of my problem.
>Unfortunately, I do not have a better location to put the tank to keep it
>from natural light. I am certain the windows cast shadows onto the tank
and
>the shadow problem is not helped when someone enters the room. The fish
>come out and eat and swim at night when the room is dark. They look happy
>and healthy whenever the room is dark.
>
>In the archives, I saw people talk about training the fish through feeding.
>I am skeptical this will help since my fish's major aversion is movement.
>This has been occurring for some time and the fish do not get tormented by
>young ones or anything like that.
>
>I saw that someone in the past also suggested water quality as a
possibility
>but my water parameters look good.
>
>I also saw a suggestion that talked about adding rainbows or zebras into
the
>tank to help the cichlids be more comfortable. This seems like a neat
>option if this were to really work.
>
>I have read that sometimes the fish need to calm down from a traumatic
>experience. Fortunately, these fish have been in the same spot, with the
>same tank, and same behavior for months and months.
>
>My last resort thought, is to rip out all the rock work and replace it with
>rock work that provides a lot of caves that face forward. That way, they
>can hide and I can still see them. They are beautiful and I would simply
>like to see them more and share their beauty with friends and family.
>
>Some info on my tank
>Tank:
>46 gallon bow front
>lots of rock structures
>water parameters good
>
>fish:
>3 yellow labs
>2 cobalts
>2 red zebras
>1 demasoni
>1 albino bristlenose
>
>plants:
>anubias nana (small)
>java fern (small)
>
>
>Thank you all in advance. I know this post got long but I appreciate your
>perspective.
>
>dgc
>
>

[Sarotherodon]

"dgc" > wrote in message
...
> I could use your opinion on how to make my cichlid tank more sociable.
They
> are very skittish and hide in the extensive rockwork whenever there is
> movement in the room. The tank looks empty after they scatter and hide
from
> the movement.
>
> The room with the tank receives a lot of outside light from large windows
> and I am pretty confident this is the primary source of my problem.
> Unfortunately, I do not have a better location to put the tank to keep it
> from natural light. I am certain the windows cast shadows onto the tank
and
> the shadow problem is not helped when someone enters the room. The fish
> come out and eat and swim at night when the room is dark. They look happy
> and healthy whenever the room is dark.
>
> In the archives, I saw people talk about training the fish through
feeding.
> I am skeptical this will help since my fish's major aversion is movement.
> This has been occurring for some time and the fish do not get tormented by
> young ones or anything like that.
>
> I saw that someone in the past also suggested water quality as a
possibility
> but my water parameters look good.
>
> I also saw a suggestion that talked about adding rainbows or zebras into
the
> tank to help the cichlids be more comfortable. This seems like a neat
> option if this were to really work.
>
> I have read that sometimes the fish need to calm down from a traumatic
> experience. Fortunately, these fish have been in the same spot, with the
> same tank, and same behavior for months and months.
>
> My last resort thought, is to rip out all the rock work and replace it
with
> rock work that provides a lot of caves that face forward. That way, they
> can hide and I can still see them. They are beautiful and I would simply
> like to see them more and share their beauty with friends and family.
>
> Some info on my tank
> Tank:
> 46 gallon bow front
> lots of rock structures
> water parameters good
>
> fish:
> 3 yellow labs
> 2 cobalts
> 2 red zebras
> 1 demasoni
> 1 albino bristlenose
>
> plants:
> anubias nana (small)
> java fern (small)
>
>
> Thank you all in advance. I know this post got long but I appreciate your
> perspective.
>
> dgc

I agree with what Paul posted. It doesn't always work, but adding dither
fish usually works with cichlids. I do generally try to set up caves so I
can see into them, but I would try the dither fish before ripping up the
tank. If they work you will have saved a lot of trouble!
>
>

[The Madd Hatter]

I've had this problem in a couple of 35 gallon species only tanks that I
had. One had my colony of 5 perlmutts and the other had my colony of 10 cyno
afra edwardis. The fish were very reclusive and skittish in both tanks. I
though originally that it was due to location, since the tanks were in the
same spot, one on top of the other on a steel stand. I eventually got rid of
the tanks and put a 77 gallon in their place. I added all the afore
mentioned fish to this tank, along w/ approx 20 other similarly sized mbuna,
of varying temprament (nothing too aggresive though). Problem solved. I've
got the cave work on the bottom, spread on the floor insstead of piled high.
They dig their caverns in the gravel and have their territoires, but they
all speand time outside and no longer act skittish.

I suspect the problem you have is simply not enough fish in the tank. I'm
assuming that these guys aren't all 4 to 5 " . I would add more cichlids
into the mix, like some of the cynotilapia species, and get it more crowded
in there.

"Sarotherodon" > wrote in message
...
>
> "dgc" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I could use your opinion on how to make my cichlid tank more sociable.
> They
> > are very skittish and hide in the extensive rockwork whenever there is
> > movement in the room. The tank looks empty after they scatter and hide
> from
> > the movement.
> >
> > The room with the tank receives a lot of outside light from large
windows
> > and I am pretty confident this is the primary source of my problem.
> > Unfortunately, I do not have a better location to put the tank to keep
it
> > from natural light. I am certain the windows cast shadows onto the tank
> and
> > the shadow problem is not helped when someone enters the room. The fish
> > come out and eat and swim at night when the room is dark. They look
happy
> > and healthy whenever the room is dark.
> >
> > In the archives, I saw people talk about training the fish through
> feeding.
> > I am skeptical this will help since my fish's major aversion is
movement.
> > This has been occurring for some time and the fish do not get tormented
by
> > young ones or anything like that.
> >
> > I saw that someone in the past also suggested water quality as a
> possibility
> > but my water parameters look good.
> >
> > I also saw a suggestion that talked about adding rainbows or zebras into
> the
> > tank to help the cichlids be more comfortable. This seems like a neat
> > option if this were to really work.
> >
> > I have read that sometimes the fish need to calm down from a traumatic
> > experience. Fortunately, these fish have been in the same spot, with
the
> > same tank, and same behavior for months and months.
> >
> > My last resort thought, is to rip out all the rock work and replace it
> with
> > rock work that provides a lot of caves that face forward. That way,
they
> > can hide and I can still see them. They are beautiful and I would
simply
> > like to see them more and share their beauty with friends and family.
> >
> > Some info on my tank
> > Tank:
> > 46 gallon bow front
> > lots of rock structures
> > water parameters good
> >
> > fish:
> > 3 yellow labs
> > 2 cobalts
> > 2 red zebras
> > 1 demasoni
> > 1 albino bristlenose
> >
> > plants:
> > anubias nana (small)
> > java fern (small)
> >
> >
> > Thank you all in advance. I know this post got long but I appreciate
your
> > perspective.
> >
> > dgc
>
> I agree with what Paul posted. It doesn't always work, but adding dither
> fish usually works with cichlids. I do generally try to set up caves so I
> can see into them, but I would try the dither fish before ripping up the
> tank. If they work you will have saved a lot of trouble!
> >
> >
>
>

[kevin]

I've had this same problem.
I did try other fish. But that didn't work.

I went and got darker curtains to cutt off the light in the room.
Now my fish stay at the front of the tank waiting for food when I walk in
the room. Like they did at night time befor,






"dgc" > wrote in message
...
> I could use your opinion on how to make my cichlid tank more sociable.
They
> are very skittish and hide in the extensive rockwork whenever there is
> movement in the room. The tank looks empty after they scatter and hide
from
> the movement.
>
> The room with the tank receives a lot of outside light from large windows
> and I am pretty confident this is the primary source of my problem.
> Unfortunately, I do not have a better location to put the tank to keep it
> from natural light. I am certain the windows cast shadows onto the tank
and
> the shadow problem is not helped when someone enters the room. The fish
> come out and eat and swim at night when the room is dark. They look happy
> and healthy whenever the room is dark.
>
> In the archives, I saw people talk about training the fish through
feeding.
> I am skeptical this will help since my fish's major aversion is movement.
> This has been occurring for some time and the fish do not get tormented by
> young ones or anything like that.
>
> I saw that someone in the past also suggested water quality as a
possibility
> but my water parameters look good.
>
> I also saw a suggestion that talked about adding rainbows or zebras into
the
> tank to help the cichlids be more comfortable. This seems like a neat
> option if this were to really work.
>
> I have read that sometimes the fish need to calm down from a traumatic
> experience. Fortunately, these fish have been in the same spot, with the
> same tank, and same behavior for months and months.
>
> My last resort thought, is to rip out all the rock work and replace it
with
> rock work that provides a lot of caves that face forward. That way, they
> can hide and I can still see them. They are beautiful and I would simply
> like to see them more and share their beauty with friends and family.
>
> Some info on my tank
> Tank:
> 46 gallon bow front
> lots of rock structures
> water parameters good
>
> fish:
> 3 yellow labs
> 2 cobalts
> 2 red zebras
> 1 demasoni
> 1 albino bristlenose
>
> plants:
> anubias nana (small)
> java fern (small)
>
>
> Thank you all in advance. I know this post got long but I appreciate your
> perspective.
>
> dgc
>
>

[Amateur]

"dgc" > wrote in message
...
> I could use your opinion on how to make my cichlid tank more sociable. They
> are very skittish and hide in the extensive rockwork whenever there is
> movement in the room. The tank looks empty after they scatter and hide from
> the movement.
>

For cichlids to not be skittish, they need to feel comfortable. Light and
shadows play a big part in this. The other things you mentioned, dither fish,
feeding, etc helps as it raises their comfort level over time. The easiest thing
you can do is to make the fish feel secure in their home. I've done this by
making my rockwork in my Mbuna tank go all the way up to the water line along
the back wall. The tank is overcrowded however and this helps in my situation.
In a situation where's there's less fish in the tank, it's often necessary to
leave only one side of the aquarium open. 3D backgrounds are IMO the best way to
make a tank feel secure. You cover the inside of the tank on three sides with a
natural looking background. This covers the glass preventing light from
reflecting off those three surfaces. This makes the fish feel more secure. This
is also the method recommended in "Enjoying Cichlids 2nd edition". Dither fish,
feeding, light levels, etc all work, but limiting reflections and creating an
environment where the fish feel secure would be your best bet. Plus it makes a
nice tank to look at. Check out the DIY articles section at
www.cichlid-forum.com for articles on building your own 3D backgrounds.
Amateur
www.amateurcichlids.com

[Myles Mansell]

I had a tank near the window and my two convicts did the same thing. Now
that I have moved the tank away from the window and into a darker spot they
are more active all the time.
"dgc" > wrote in message
...
> I could use your opinion on how to make my cichlid tank more sociable.
They
> are very skittish and hide in the extensive rockwork whenever there is
> movement in the room. The tank looks empty after they scatter and hide
from
> the movement.
>
> The room with the tank receives a lot of outside light from large windows
> and I am pretty confident this is the primary source of my problem.
> Unfortunately, I do not have a better location to put the tank to keep it
> from natural light. I am certain the windows cast shadows onto the tank
and
> the shadow problem is not helped when someone enters the room. The fish
> come out and eat and swim at night when the room is dark. They look happy
> and healthy whenever the room is dark.
>
> In the archives, I saw people talk about training the fish through
feeding.
> I am skeptical this will help since my fish's major aversion is movement.
> This has been occurring for some time and the fish do not get tormented by
> young ones or anything like that.
>
> I saw that someone in the past also suggested water quality as a
possibility
> but my water parameters look good.
>
> I also saw a suggestion that talked about adding rainbows or zebras into
the
> tank to help the cichlids be more comfortable. This seems like a neat
> option if this were to really work.
>
> I have read that sometimes the fish need to calm down from a traumatic
> experience. Fortunately, these fish have been in the same spot, with the
> same tank, and same behavior for months and months.
>
> My last resort thought, is to rip out all the rock work and replace it
with
> rock work that provides a lot of caves that face forward. That way, they
> can hide and I can still see them. They are beautiful and I would simply
> like to see them more and share their beauty with friends and family.
>
> Some info on my tank
> Tank:
> 46 gallon bow front
> lots of rock structures
> water parameters good
>
> fish:
> 3 yellow labs
> 2 cobalts
> 2 red zebras
> 1 demasoni
> 1 albino bristlenose
>
> plants:
> anubias nana (small)
> java fern (small)
>
>
> Thank you all in advance. I know this post got long but I appreciate your
> perspective.
>
> dgc
>
>