HOW CAN I CALM MY FISH DOWN?

[happyadd]

Hey;

I have a tank stocked with 6 neons, 1 oto and a pair of Rams.

The oto and rams are new additions. Prior to that the neons had contracted Ich. The treatment proved instantly successful but since then they have been very nervous. before I could feed them or look at them close up. Now, if I go near the tank they dart behind the plants and wont come out until I go.

The same has happened to my new additions, the rams and oto. I can watch them from a few meters away but if they catch a glimpse of me they scarper, the neons usually go first which spooks the rest.

The water params are fine 0 nitrite and less than 0.20 on ammonia.

Any ideas what I can do.

My hand goes in the tank pretty regular to remove pesky snails and add cucumber etc for the oto, so theres no avoiding that. The only thing I can think of is that becasue they are in a quiet room they aren't used to people. They were fine before the ich though, which is odd!

 

[Mr Miagi]

Anything else in the room that can cause your fish to frighten? I know alot of extirnal things can spooke your fish.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What is the size of the tank they're in and how planted is it? if a desease is not the cause, perhaps planting the tank more and adding a few more hiding places via rocks and ornements may make them feel more secure; also adding another 2 or 3 neons will make them feel more secure as for them, the bigger the shoal the better.

 

[happyadd]

Good point on ading the neons, could I add any small tetra, or a few more shoaling fish like danios or haliquins do you think?

I have got a Tom Cat who's becoming more and more interested, but he's shut out of the room all day.

My tank is very heavily planted with a large piece of bogwood over two rocks, forming a great cave. When the fish hide, they hide, I can't see them at all!

Its not a big problem but I would like to actually look at my fish...and I personally dont think I'm that ugly!

So if I were to put another 6 fish in, say harlequins, how would my stocking look

15G Hex with:

6 Neons
6 Others - possibly harlequins
2 Rams
1 Oto

Is that too much? it probably is!

 

[ccg]

Its not a big problem but I would like to actually look at my fish...and I personally dont think I'm that ugly!

Maybe you need to face the facts, you may be ugly and scaring the fish. Can you post a picture so we can determine if you being ugly is a factor in your fish problem?

Sorry! Had to say it, I'm just joking though. A few more plants or hiding places my make them feel more comfortible. As for you stocking I am not entirely sure as I have never owned and rams or Oto's. You'll have to see what other say about that, but adding another 6 fish my be pushing it.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

i don't know alot about rams(i think they grow to 4inchs) and otos; they may outgrow your tank but somone else here will probably post about that so just wait and see until you make plans for more fish.

 

[happyadd]

4 inches for a male ram, 3 for a female, but their small growers. My oto is fully grown at 2 inches their only little but their excellent little fish!

I am a distant cousin of the elephant man on my mothers side, and my father was actually born under a rock, but I have been told told I look like tom cruise...in Vanilla sky unfortunately lol!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What new fish are you planning on putting in it then? neons don't produce very little waste, adding an extra 2 or 3 would be good for your shoal.

 

[happyadd]

Perhaps a few harlequins or other tetras, just a little variation on colour cos when you've seen one neon....

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

You mentioned that the ammonia is under .20ppm. How much under? I think the neons and the rams are very sensitive to water condtions. I've had some fish behave differently when I had an ammonia reading just under .25ppm.

It would probably be better to wait until the ammonia reading is zero before adding more fishies.

But then again, maybe you should really post your picture so we can rule out it's really not you that's scaring them! Hee hee!!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Where does that say about the ammonia??

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

First post, 4th paragraph....

 

[BettaMomma]

Its not a big problem but I would like to actually look at my fish...and I personally dont think I'm that ugly!

LOL
I don't know much about neons, but I was all prepared to ask you if you were scary looking. lol

Good luck with your fishes.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Fish can feel threatened if they have 360 degrees of oopen space around them, if you add a background or paint it black, this makes them feel more comfortable also.

My cat jumps on top of my tank hood for the warmth and that freask em out, but like you said, if he is locked out of the room it shoudnt be a problem.

Neons are pretty skittish fish aswell.

 

[happyadd]

My test only shows it 0.20. I use an interpet kit, which is normally quiet good. The first reading on it 0.20 and thats what it shows. Its always shown this; perhaps it is a little too high, I know those fish can be quiet sensitive. I am gonna do a mid week water change so hopefully that'll correct it.

My tank is in the corner of a room and has a background on 3 of the 6 sides. The neons were a bit better last night; and the female ram was wondering round, the male is still in hiding.