cockatoo hiding?

[Katchan]

I got a pair of cockatoo's last friday and they seem to be going healthily enough infact the female is giving the my kribs hell, but the male while seeming healthy (eats, no clamped fins etc) spends almost all his time hiding in a cave.

Thoughts Please

Katchan

 

[nc_nutcase]

I'm no expert on them... but I just got a few shipped to me last week and one of the males parades around like a king while most of the females go unseen for days. So I don't have a solution to offer but a similar situation which may show this is normal (either that or were both in trouble )

 

[pnyklr3]

Is your tank heavily plantes? Funny thing is, the more hiding places you have, the more you will see him. Give him a few days to settle in, and you will probably see him more.

 

[Katchan]

Just updating on this

after a week and a half and no change to behaviour I decided to move him to our new 40 gallon. There has been no change in behaviour from his girlie in the move she still swims about everywhere, but he while hiding a little less (probably because of less plants/caves than the previous tank) still sooks most of the day in the corner or behind plants. Can anybody please give me some suggestions on how to give this guy some BALLS please as he is seriously lacking in testicular foritude.

katchan

 

[Seb R]

Do you have other big cichlids or fish that are bigger than him or her?

that might be why they are more nervous upon settling in. Might just take a while. *OR* if the female is hiding in one specific cave and coming out only to eat then that might mean.... eggs. (thats what I found anyway )

 

[Katchan]

In the first tank there was nothing bigger than him, just neons, whiteclouds and 2 very juvie kribs (2cm).

In the 40 gallon while their are fish that are bigger than him the are all mid to top fish, 2x5cm pearl gourami and 5 betta girls only 2 that are bigger than him though. There is also a albino krib (slightly larger) in there as well but the krib doesnt even try to go near him.

One piece of good news is that today I saw him keeping his dorsal fin erect for more than a minute or two (often more than 5 minutes) so its possible he is just really jumpy/skitish and taking a long time to settle down.

His girl is not the slightest bit interested settling down in a cave she spends her time ALL over the tank, and even beats up on the 2cm juvie krib in there (its ever so slightly bigger than her, and she did it to the 2 juvie kribs in the first tank too )

katchan

PS with their colouring on fins does this get better as the mature? He is still smallish (I think) at about 3.5->4cm and the colouring/markings on his dorsal and tail are patchy, the colouring on his anal fin is mostly fine. I will try to get a pic tonight if he cooperates

 

[pnyklr3]

Any dither fish? That might help a little bit. Cockatoos tend to be seen more if you have a lot of caves and plant coverage...weird, I know, but it seems to make them feel safe.

 

[Griz]

Can you give us a bit more info about your tank? What other fish are in there, planted or not, etc? My experience with cacs is the same as the others who have posted. I have a trio in a well panted tank, lots of hiding places and 23 tetras. They have always been rather bold, even from the begining. They even hang out near the surface at times.

 

[lucky62]

Can you give us a bit more info about your tank? What other fish are in there, planted or not, etc? My experience with cacs is the same as the others who have posted. I have a trio in a well panted tank, lots of hiding places and 23 tetras. They have always been rather bold, even from the begining. They even hang out near the surface at times.

I will also agree.....a little more info , also , I picked up a new male last week . He's in quarentine now with 3 peacock gudgeons , very bold indeed , always out to see whoever goes near the tank .

 

[Katchan]

Ok in the original tank there was
1 male/1 female cockatoo
4 white clouds
2 black neon
2 juvie kribs
1 BN

10 gallon, medium planted, 3 caves
Bordering on overstocked I know but it was temp until the new 40 gal was ready then it was a toss up beween the juvie kribs and the cockatoos

in the 40 Gallon tank where they currently are
12 female golden barbs most 1/2" or less
5 betta females varying between juvie and adult
2 pearl gourami
1 albino krib, 1 juvie krib
4 juvie guppies
1 male/1 female cockatoo
1 BN

lightly planted at the moment, I did over my other tanks to get the plants going in this
their is currently 2 caves but another 2-3 will be added in a day or two then some more some time after that (as I get plants to hide them)

Katchan

 

[longhorn13]

yeah, i gotta say mine are pretty bold too. they used to be in with a couple swordtails, but now all the 33g is holding is a m/f cockatoo, a apisto steindachneri, rubberlip pleco and a sae. so no dithers and both are always out and about. just give him a little time and he'll grow a pair

 

[Katchan]

I might grab him another girlie when I can afford as well see if that helps

Katchan

 

[Seb R]

dunno but mabye it was when they were in thier old shop they might have had a rough time, meaning it might take longer for them to settle down? That could explain his nerves.

Besides as he gets bigger and older he should get more colour as he will become the 'Alpha male', could always get another female to make him fell happier

 

[lucky62]

Ok in the original tank there was
1 male/1 female cockatoo
4 white clouds
2 black neon
2 juvie kribs
1 BN

10 gallon, medium planted, 3 caves
Bordering on overstocked I know but it was temp until the new 40 gal was ready then it was a toss up beween the juvie kribs and the cockatoos

in the 40 Gallon tank where they currently are
12 female golden barbs most 1/2" or less
5 betta females varying between juvie and adult
2 pearl gourami
1 albino krib, 1 juvie krib
4 juvie guppies
1 male/1 female cockatoo
1 BN

lightly planted at the moment, I did over my other tanks to get the plants going in this
their is currently 2 caves but another 2-3 will be added in a day or two then some more some time after that (as I get plants to hide them)

Katchan

I'd keep an eye on the kribs [even though they're small] .............this could be why you don't see your Cockatoo ...........a 10 gallon is not big enough to fit 4 [or 2] dwarf cichlids ..
In the 40 gallon increase the numbers of schooling fish to at least 5 of each , when kept in smaller or as single specimens they can behave differently [ maybe even aggressive ].
Also , I myself would keep the cockatoos , kribs are nice too , if they pair off your cacs may not fair well...........so I would leave the kribs out of the and get another female Cockatoo.




The 40 is pretty busy as well.[ kribs in there too , I think ].........Cockatoos are a great fish , I've kept them with many other kinds of fish , even other dwarf cichlids.

Add a few more caves , small flower pots work well.....in the 2" size range .

Many times cichlids don't mix well with other cichlids ....do to aggression issues esp when breeding is in the mix , this can be very stressful IME Cockatoos are all [mostly ]show and kribs are capable of causing injury .............it may work for you[ in the forty ], but I don't think the Cockatoos would be very happy .

 

[pnyklr3]

Also remember that cockatoos are bottom dwellers, so don't fill the tank with to many of these types of fish. It makes getting food a lot easier....esp if they are shy.