Pics Of My Tank. Too Many Rocks?

[sdrifaat]

Hi

My malawi set-up

Above is the pic of my tank, its a 55g. Lotsa rocks. Has external fluval and an internal filter. Set-up running for 18 months or so.
Stocked with 2 estherae, catfish, pleco, pakistani loach, 2 acei, textilis, and 6 yellow labs (and 2 livngstonii, but I'm giving them away - gonna get too big). Two yellow labs died early on, but the rest started breeding a few months back. I now have about 8 (I think) babies of different sizes. Some big enough to swim with the big boys. But the "problem" I'm having is that I hardly see my fish. Most of the time I only see the acei, 1 estherae and the catfish and loach. The yellow labs, my favourite esp against the brown lava rock, spend most of the time inbetween the rocks. They seldom come out. When they do come out its very briefly, and when they see movement in the room they dart back into the rocks. They don't even come out feeding time like they used to the first few months.

Is there anything I can do to remedy this situation. Its depressing, I wanna enjoy my fish.

BTW, what you guys think of my tank??

Thanx.
Rifaat.

 

[kj23502]

i think you're tank looks fine as far as rocks. Have they had a big scare recently? You don't have very many of the same fish. What are the babies?? any idea??

Water parameters ok? Do they still eat?

My fish are afraid of my brother...seriously they are. When he comes near they go into hiding. i have no idea why. I'm pretty sure he hasn't traumatized them.

 

[SharonCC]

Mine are scared of all people that they don't know. For such aggressive fish, they sure are "wusses"...last year, I had a lot of blonde put in my hair. I'ts normally dark brown. When I walked to the tank to feed, everyone headed for the rocks. I couldn't believe it! Mine have gotten braver with time, and they spend most of their time out, now...

 

[sdrifaat]

i think you're tank looks fine as far as rocks. Have they had a big scare recently? You don't have very many of the same fish. What are the babies?? any idea??

babies are all yellow labs

 

[chr15_8]

rocks look fine to me if anything i would personally add a few small pieces to create more smaller caves.

the more hiding you provide the better as they will feel safer knowing there's alot of hiding spaces.

but as said how are the water parameters. they could be hiding due to the wrong parameters eg ammonia as hiding as there 'injured'


my fish use to be afraid of my sister when ever she was about they would hide and then slowly look out the caves to see if its safe.

 

[sdrifaat]

rocks look fine to me if anything i would personally add a few small pieces to create more smaller caves.

I really liked the rock set-up, took me a while to get it like that, but fish hiding most of the time just upset me ...
so I removed all the rocks on Friday evening, I was amazed to see that I now have 15 yellow labs of various sizes.
I put 40% of the rocks back, I'm seeing my fish now and the yellow labs look great against the dark brown rocks, I will add some smaller pieces, just need to chop up some of the larger rocks that I never put back in the tank
the rocks were 2/3 the height of the tank, but is only 1/3 the height now - I'll be adding rocks slowly to try and get the height to about 1/2 the height of the tank. Will post a pic sometime this week.

Thanx.
Rifaat.

 

[alnes]

Hi, you can put a lot more fish in there, the more the better with malawi, it will make them more confident & safe, I have approx 30+ in my 300ltr, & can hand feed the majority,look for some larger fish, a few of mine are 6" and tend to regulate the aggression, fantastic fish, good luck

 

[tenohfive]

You've been asked by two different people for the water parameters as this could be why you're fish are hiding.

Do you have a liquid drop based testing kit that tests pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[fishlover500]

on the note of them being scared:

Mine are not scared AT ALL!!
It is actually anoying because as soon as they see someone even like 10'+ away from the tank and "beg" for food.
Barely scared of anything. Don't get to see them naturally unless you sit down and watch them for a few minutes and
if you move your hand they start to beg again?!?

 

[sdrifaat]

No, I haven't tested the water parameters yet, will do so.

But I have redone the rock layout and the fish are all over the place now. Esp at night when I sit still and watch them, its a real joy. But when they see movement most of them hide, then come out soon after again. So thanx alot for the advice re opening up and using less rocks. made the worls of difference for my set-up.

Still, I'm buying a water test kit this weekend, will post the results here.

Thanx.
Rifaat.

 

[tenohfive]

Good work. Over time they should become used to people walking past, though (daft as it sounds) until they do I've found it helps to walk a bit slower past them so as not to startle them.

 

[sdrifaat]

Good work. Over time they should become used to people walking past, though (daft as it sounds) until they do I've found it helps to walk a bit slower past them so as not to startle them.

yes, i've been doing that lately, walking slowly, even instructed my kids too
but its only a couple of them that really get startled, it would appear, and they seem to get the rest of them startled too
i suppose i'll just have to be patient then
thanx