Got Problem With Cichlids

[ryguy]

all of my african cichlids except for my ventura hide day in and day out only comming out for food. i have a huge rock in the center next to a little bit smaller 1 as u can see in my avatar. im thinking about putting rocks in that space so they dont consistantly hide. is that a good idea?

 

[iairj84]

I would let them hide. If it's their natural tendency then don't try and stop that. My Yellow Labs are like that sometimes, and sometimes they come out and play for the better part of the day. It's the weirdest thing with them. How long have you had the fish?

 

[dthoffsett]

I think adding some more rocks would definately help. Cichlids feel the most secure when they have plenty of caves/rocks nearby to dart into when they feel threatened, and with an abundance of rocks you should see them more. Another thing you can do, is sit very still in front of the tank for 30min or so every day, they'll get used to you being there and won't startle as often.

 

[caboose_122]

yes, try adding more rocks in there to make them feel more secure. the more secure they feel the more they will come out

 

[Demm]

i have about 100-150lbs rocks in my tank, most of the time they are swimming above the rocks, but every now and then some of them will hide as well. especially if they are hiding from a certain fish or something. as far as being startled by me watching them, mine instead come to the front glass and just star me down...all the fish in the tank lol. kinda wierd having 16-20 fish stare at you without moving

 

[SharonC]

i have about 100-150lbs rocks in my tank, most of the time they are swimming above the rocks, but every now and then some of them will hide as well. especially if they are hiding from a certain fish or something. as far as being startled by me watching them, mine instead come to the front glass and just star me down...all the fish in the tank lol. kinda wierd having 16-20 fish stare at you without moving

Extra rocks and caves will definitely help...try to arrange them so there's lots of hiding places.Mine also come to the front of the tank whenever I get within 10 ft. of the tank. They're such greedy little things...They probably think they're getting fed again!

 

[kev350d]

Have two kids constantly peering into the tank and running back and forth and I guarentee if after one week they arn't dead they will be bomb proof lol, seriously have as much interaction with them as possible I have just set up a second tank and bought a few WC haps and they have never been exposed to much human intervention so this makes it extremely tricky when switching the lights on and off, sometime you just hear them bouncing off the sides of the glass but they are slowly adjusting to captivity and hopefully in a week or so they will be as glad to see me each morning as my other fish..

 

[ryguy]

getting new pics of the new rocks plus 2 new cichlids once i upload ull see

with new rocks they are comming out more