I need help with my very traumatized Keyhole Cichlid.
A little backstory, this fish and the accompanying tank have been through about 5-6 moves within a 2 year time period. Through this, I've learned Clyde absolutely hates the net, hates being caught, hates all of it. He is an absolute terror to catch in a net and it's just a big ordeal to move him, but he's always pulled back to normal after setting everything back up and putting him back in the tank. The tank is 20 gallons with some well established live plants, with a few corydoras and tetras in there too.
Two weeks ago I had to move again, I'm not quite sure what it is but this time, but he will not come out of hiding from the corner of the tank and he usually has that frightened keyhole color pattern on. For this move I had made sure to catch him first, and as far as moves go this one was probably the fastest I've done as far as transporting him, usually I have to drive for an hour but this time the new place was just down the street. Now, two weeks later, all the other fish besides Clyde seem to have adjusted and are happy and active. As far as I can tell he wasn't physically damaged in any way.
One thing I suspect might have him off is that I had taken out and thrown away a hunk of driftwood that had gotten kinda gross, so I guess he lost a familiar hiding place, and the tall plants also got trimmed down by half to make the move easier. A week after the move (so 1 week ago) I got a fake driftwood decor thing with lots of hiding places in it, and when I put that in he started freaking out and actually tried jumping out of the tank for dear life as I lowered the piece into the tank. It almost seems like he's afraid of that now, too, even though I was thinking it would give him a place to hide other than the corner
I don't know what to do for him, as all he does all day is sit down in the back corner of the tank behind the plants. He used to be really active and alert, always swimming up top and front just to watch everything outside the tank. He also doesn't seem as excited about his flake food anymore, but now he'll only come up to grab a couple bites before hiding again, if he comes up at all.
I'm thinking all I can do now is wait but I'm hoping there is something I can do for him. Has anyone dealt with something like this before, or have any tips to bring him out of his shell?
A little backstory, this fish and the accompanying tank have been through about 5-6 moves within a 2 year time period. Through this, I've learned Clyde absolutely hates the net, hates being caught, hates all of it. He is an absolute terror to catch in a net and it's just a big ordeal to move him, but he's always pulled back to normal after setting everything back up and putting him back in the tank. The tank is 20 gallons with some well established live plants, with a few corydoras and tetras in there too.
Two weeks ago I had to move again, I'm not quite sure what it is but this time, but he will not come out of hiding from the corner of the tank and he usually has that frightened keyhole color pattern on. For this move I had made sure to catch him first, and as far as moves go this one was probably the fastest I've done as far as transporting him, usually I have to drive for an hour but this time the new place was just down the street. Now, two weeks later, all the other fish besides Clyde seem to have adjusted and are happy and active. As far as I can tell he wasn't physically damaged in any way.
One thing I suspect might have him off is that I had taken out and thrown away a hunk of driftwood that had gotten kinda gross, so I guess he lost a familiar hiding place, and the tall plants also got trimmed down by half to make the move easier. A week after the move (so 1 week ago) I got a fake driftwood decor thing with lots of hiding places in it, and when I put that in he started freaking out and actually tried jumping out of the tank for dear life as I lowered the piece into the tank. It almost seems like he's afraid of that now, too, even though I was thinking it would give him a place to hide other than the corner
I don't know what to do for him, as all he does all day is sit down in the back corner of the tank behind the plants. He used to be really active and alert, always swimming up top and front just to watch everything outside the tank. He also doesn't seem as excited about his flake food anymore, but now he'll only come up to grab a couple bites before hiding again, if he comes up at all.
I'm thinking all I can do now is wait but I'm hoping there is something I can do for him. Has anyone dealt with something like this before, or have any tips to bring him out of his shell?
