Nervous Fish

[Edge]

Hey Guys
I was wondering if a more experienced Malawi keeper could give me some advice please? I have just moved my Malawi community back to their permanent home in my 75 gallon tank, they were in a Jewel Trigon 190 for a few months while I fixed a leak in the 75 gal and arranged out new flat to give us room for the bigger tank. Not ideal but they are mostly still under 3", so it was an OK temporary solution.

Anyway, my basic problem is since they moved back into the 75gal they are so nervous that I only ever see them at feeding time, and even then they dart back into the rocks if I move even a tiny amount. There are piles of rocks at each end of the tank, rising from the substrate to about 80% of the tank height. There is probably a 4-6" gap of open water between the two piles.
Temp is 26deg, ammonia and nitrite are 0 (Moved mature external filter across from Trigon with them - eheim pro 2227 wet/dry).

So does anyone have any ideas how I can calm them down? They were not like this at all before I moved them, and it's been about 2 weeks now so I assume the stress of being caught up and moved should have faded by now. I'm not sure I want dithers like Giant Danios etc, the advice I've read on that is about 50-50

Thanks
Edge

 

[Ferris]

I've moved Mbuna bewteen tanks on several occasions and have often found that they hide for a while, especially if moved to a larger tank. I would have expected them to settle in after 2 weeks but it may be they need a little more time.

Try to refrain from re-scaping the tank in any way for the time being so that they can really familiarise themselves with their surroundings. Are there plenty of hiding places? i.e more hiding places than fish?

I have never had the need to use dither's with Mbuna but don't see any problem with doing so. If you don't like the idea long-term - you could always return/rehome the dither's once things return to normal.

 

[Colin_T]

did you actually check the ammonia and nitrite readings recently or did you assume they were 0 because you moved an established filter across. The reason I ask is because they normally act nervous in poor water quality and the filter may have died off during the move. Have you done any water changes on the tank since the fish were introduced? Maybe do one and see if that helps.

 

[Edge]

I did test the water a few days after I had moved the fish & filter, but I will do a water change tonight; I'm about due for one now anyway.
I think there are more than enough hiding places too, there are 13 fish in the tank at the moment and probably around 30-40 little gaps and holes etc.
I'll try a water change, keep testing and give it a week. If they're still scared I may try some giant danios or something, but hopefully they'll come round on their own.
Thanks