Kribensis Pair Does Not Come Out Of Hiding?

[VidVid]

this pair recently had fry but all got eaten within a week in the larger 37gallon tank...I didnt want this to happen again so i transferred them to their own 15gallon...The 15gallon only has a clump of java moss and a cave for them to hide in as compared to the larger tank which is 50%planted....Could this be the cause??? Are they scared to come out because of all the open space in the 15gallon??? I notice them coming out when the lights are off...They don't even take notice in the food....Should i plant at least 50% of the 15gallon tank, or do i just get around 6 active tetras so they won't be afraid to come out...What is wrong with them???
P.S. When they were in the 37gallon, they were very active fish and swim in all areas of the tank...

 

[DarkEntity]

Ok, so you moved fish from a heavy planted tank to a bare one?

Id say that they are just being very weary in their new home especially since there are not many enclosed spaces where they can hide. If you planted the rear and around the cave i bet they would come out more.

 

[Murray]

I second that. My tank is only planted in some areas but the fish use the whole tank, once there is comfortable places to hide they feel comfortable swimming in free spaces too...pleasureful

 

[kribensis12]

I would plant the whole tank and check the water parameters. If that dosent work, try getting a garlic clove, grate it very finely, mix it with the food and it encuorages them to eat.

 

[cheesy feet]

Lol no need to start polluting the water and going to weird methods for no reason! .I had a breeding trio of cribs and they were always pretty shy so meh.I would just plant the tank a little more

 

[Murray]

GARLIC!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[VidVid]

hey thanks for the replies...
i dont know about garlic? but it might work for 'kribensis12'? luckily, i don't have to go to that extent since my kribs are visibly eating...i just added another driftwood with anubias attached to it and they love hiding under the shelter the wood gives...The only problem i have is that they only eat when the food comes to them (or when the lights are out)??? When in the larger tank, they swim to their food from one end of the tank to the other...In this case, they just hide in their caves and when food happens to float near their mouths, they grab it skittishly....il just add a few more plants over the week and probably feed them near their cave so i know each of the two is getting the proper food requirements...

 

[kribensis12]

Garlic is used as a appittiette stimulator, and I hate to break it to you" cheesey feet" but kribes breed in pairs and never in harems. You might have one of the apistogramma's which breed in harems but kribs never do.