Fish Always Hiding

[tattae]

(I've already posted the same topic under catfish board, but got no reply, so I'm trying again here... sorry).

I've put a Syno. Feather Fin in my mbuna tank since Nov, 2006 and I've never seen him ever since.

The minute I let him out of the bag, he went straight to under the rocks and never came out. I had given up on him - thought he no longer lives. But a few days ago, I rearrange the lighting and through the cracks of the rocks I could see glimps of him moving behind. He's so much bigger now and got such graceful fins (though I could only see partially).

I understand that it's probably the nature of this kind of fish that hides all the time. But It would be nice to see him come out and show off once in a while. I've read somewhere that some keepers managed to "train" Syno. Feather Fin come out during feeding. What do I have to do? Is it even possible?

Thank you.

 

[Lynda B]

I was just reading that they like to have a smooth platform from which to oversee the tank. Are the materials in your tank too rough for him to lay on?

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I'm afraid I don't know how to help, I just wanted to say that is a very nice looking tank.

 

[nukeonekitty]

My syno cats hardly come out during the day, but when I do late feedings (like 10pm) they come out to get the scraps. Also, at night they are all over the place, outside and inside the rocks).

 

[Straydum]

you happen to look scary?

 

[paul_219]

Nice tank.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I know you can't really have live plants in the tank, but i've read that syno's enjoy planting, perhaps some fake plants might make the syno feel more secure and at home in the tank. Large open spaces are just as important as plenty of hiding spaces, its hard to say from the pic (nice tank btw), but it doesn't look like there is much open space at the front for the syno to do much swimming in, maybe re-organising some of the rocks may encourage the syno to explore the tank more.
What do you feed the syno and how much/often on average?

 

[tattae]

Thank you all for the replies.

Seems like my syno knows that I'm writing up about him, he decided to show me off today for the first time!

Nah ... I'm thinking it could be because I just added another 5 small syno (unknown) into the tank a few days ago. They move about a lot, and that probably encourage the big guy to come out also. Today, right after I turned off the aquarium light, but the light outside was still bright, my feather fin imediately came out and explored everywhere. And he looked fat.

Regarding feeding: I just feed all the fish half table spoon of Tatra Pro Vegetable twice a day.