Does Aquascaping Cause Stress To Fish?

[Chris_Wood]

After just completing a re-scaping of my tank last night this thougt went through my head!

Now all us planted tank junkies constantly fiddle, prune and rearrange our tanks on a regular if not almost daily basis.... ...surley this must stress the fish out!

I was wondering if anyone has any opinions or can relate their experiences?

What do you do to reduce the stress when aquascaping (a hand must look like a huge predator to a fish)?

I have tried removing the fish temporarily (think this is too stressful) to now just doing things whilst their still in there... ...however they still tend to react really skittishly to my intrusion.

Let me know your opinions and solutions!

CW

 

[Themuleous]

Yeh I just get on with it. My clowns dont like it and dash about quite a bit but the tetras and corys dont seems to mind and are quite happy again within a few minutes.

Sam

 

[Chris_Wood]

Yeh... ...i'd agree with the cory's bit, mine don't seem to care either!

In the past I have had some fish which not only didn't seem to mind they were positivley inquistive.... ...danio's (just plain daft, would nibble at my arm)... ...siamese fighter (always in the way, would even swin into the filter holder when doing maintenance, again not the brightest of fish!)

CW

 

[Gnatfish]

Yeah ive often wondered this.

I think that for things like pruning it would be fine, but for major re-scapes it might be better to take them out.

Yeh... ...i'd agree with the cory's bit, mine don't seem to care either!

In the past I have had some fish which not only didn't seem to mind they were positivley inquistive.... ...danio's (just plain daft, would nibble at my arm)... ...siamese fighter (always in the way, would even swin into the filter holder when doing maintenance, again not the brightest of fish!)

CW

Aren't Bettas ment to be really intelligent

 

[Qays]

my guppies think im food, so they start pecking at me.

 

[Jen]

my guppies think im food, so they start pecking at me.

My barbs do the same thing - they try to rip my freckles off.

anyway. I just did a big-ish change in my tank too. I pulled out one half of the tank, and they all went hiding in the val on the other end. It took them a while to get used to the lack of plants, but they were out exploring after an hour or so.

 

[Tolak]

I think working on your tank is a lot less stressful than what they would encounter in the wild. Bigger fish, or other non-aquatic animals trying to eat you sounds more stressful than plants being moved.

 

[Chris_Wood]

I think working on your tank is a lot less stressful than what they would encounter in the wild. Bigger fish, or other non-aquatic animals trying to eat you sounds more stressful than plants being moved.

You have a point there!

However, I imagine there are also more hiding places and you can escape beyond that solid wall of glass?!?

CW

 

[Jen]

I guess as long as you leave them places to hide while you are working in there.

 

[George Farmer]

Sure aquascaping will cause a degree of stress for most fish, just as water changes (short term), opening the hood for feeding (for some fish), cleaning the filter, scraping the glass, kids knocking on the glass, people walking passed the glass will all cause varying degrees of defensive behaviour that could be interpreted as stress.

Perhaps the act of reaching in for pruning, rearranging etc. may cause higher levels of stress but just like the other examples, this is inevitable.

IME most fish do learn to act less skittish, probably through a form systematic desensitisation - the old-age tale that fish have 7 second memories is bull. Perhaps this conditioning/desensitisation through regular "invasions" by our hands actually is to their benefit long-term. Imagine a fish tank that has minimal human contact. Some will say this is best because it is the least stressful for the fish i.e. no hands in the tank. But one day the owner will need to get his/her hands wet, and then the fish will be super stressed because they've never experienced it before.

What can we do to minimise stress re. aquascaping? Grow slow growing, low maintenance plants i.e. Java fern, Anubias, Crypts, C helferi etc. As Jen suggests a heavily planted tank with plenty of cover will provide a secure environment and ideal hiding places.

 

[demonmagus]

I agree with George (that is your name isn't it?), surely the fish must get kinda used to it

 

[Jen]

They deffinately get used to it, that's for sure. Just think back to when you first got new fish.. the hide when you come up to feed them, or walk past the tank. Over time, they 'recognise' you, and come to the top then you get near the tank. I have one barb that was the most skittish when I got this bunch from fishbuddy. He was the only male I got from her, and it took him a while to warm up to my male. He always hid, and now whenever my arms are in the tank he plays with me. I have one large freckle that stands out from the rest on my upper arm, and the bugger always takes a nip at it, then darts between my hands. Even when I'm in there with scissors. If I make a circle with my hands he'll swim through.

It just takes a while for them to get used to you.