My Very Shy Bleeding Hearts

[jason_coggins]

I recently purchased 6 bleeding hearts as the first fish in my new aquarium....the problem is that when the lights are on....they hide and look very scared.........however when i turn the light off they are very active.
I purchased some more plants - one which provides a lot of shelter


Is this normal?
Should i be worried about fish stress levels with the light on?

 

[Durbkat]

How long have you had them, what's the size of the tank, is their a filter and heater in the tank, and did you cycle the tank?

 

[jason_coggins]

yes i cycled the tank
yes there is a filter

heater not yet
its very warm in sydney and i was advised not to place a heater until winter

yes i cycled the tank
yes there is a filter

heater not yet
its very warm in sydney and i was advised not to place a heater until winter

tank is 95 liters

 

[Durbkat]

Whats the temp of the tank? How long have you had them? Did you turn the light on the first day you got them? Because I found with tetras if you do that, that they become skittish and shy when the lights come on. For example when I first started keeping fish I got 4 black tetras for my 10g, and as I didn't know I turned the light on as soon as they were in the tank and they were very skittish and shy after that, they wouldn't eat with the light on nor would they swim around. Then I put them in my long 20g with some more black tetras they swam around more and most of them ate with the light on but once I got them in my 55g and waited 2 days before turning the tank light on after they got in their they are totaly different fish and they swim around all day and eat while the light is on. So the point of this story is to tell you that I found its best to wait 2 days after putting them in the tank to turn the light on or feed them because if you feed them while the light is off they will think that the tank is safer when lights are out and may not eat when the light is on or swim around when its on.