Timid Cichlids

[dirtydogg]

Over the past month I've been stocking my 55 Gallon, and the two "main attractions, the Green Severum and the Parrot Cichlid are very shy. In fact they just hide whenever anybody enters the room. The parrot is almost dangerous when he does it, he darts around the tank running into everything then it's like he remembers his cave and darts into it. I picked the Severum in the stor because he came right to the edge of the tank while I was looking at him, but now he does the same thing. They often times dart into the same cave, which the parrot doesn't think to highly of after I've been out of sight for a while.
Is there anything I can do to make them more comfortable around people?

 

[redgold]

Add some dither fish to the tank, like a school of large tetras or aussie rainbows. Maybe 5 or 6. Even some rosey barbs or some similar fish would probably help.

Is the tank in a high traffic area? If not, consider moving it so the fish get used to activity outside their world. Sometimes this works, though it may not be an option.

Lastly, spend a lot of time in front of the tank just watching them so they get used to your presence.

hth

 

[cichlidlovr]

I also have a parrot fish, i've had mine for well over a year now and when I first got him he was crazy, he would smash into the glass and dive into caves and basically do anything to get away from us. we had dither fish (giant danios) and other fish in the tank also and nothing seemed to help much, it took him a good two months before he starting coming out at feeding time, just move as slow as you can around him and he will get better with time

I should probably add that he's now one of my most friendly fish and always comes right up to the front of the tank to visit make sure you have caves big enough for your parrotfish to fit into, mine spent alot of time in them while he was adjusting

 

[fufanu360]

Add some dither fish to the tank, like a school of large tetras or aussie rainbows. Maybe 5 or 6. Even some rosey barbs or some similar fish would probably help.

Is the tank in a high traffic area? If not, consider moving it so the fish get used to activity outside their world. Sometimes this works, though it may not be an option.

Lastly, spend a lot of time in front of the tank just watching them so they get used to your presence.

hth

u dont need dithers at all.... unneccesary

what you need is to have some patients for the poor fish

it all takes time bud...

 

[Ben]

add another sev for a while and it will come out more

DD

 

[freddyk]

I agree with the patience suggestion, time is all you need. Packing the fish in till the tank is bursting is probably not the best solution.

 

[DannyBoy17]

Soon enough they will realize where the food comes from. Then watch out! They will be begging whenever anyone comes around, not hiding!

DB

 

[Fishy411]

just give it time. My sev is so personable now after only being here for about a month and a half. he is my favorite fish by so much.

 

[Dwarfs]

It took my sev a while to warm up to me and my dad, but now he's out and following us whenever we enter the room

 

[redgold]

ok, first of all, adding 5 or 6 dithers to a 55 with a sev and a parrot isn't exactly "packing in the fish". C'mon, don't be extreme.


Hospitals have patients.


Patience works with fish. I belive patience is implied when I mentioned spending a lot of time in front of the tank or even moving it to a high traffic area. It is a known fact and a well-established practice that dither fish greatly help cichlids in overcoming shyness. To suggest such a procedure is commonplace and good sense. How can anyone state that dithers aren't necessary?


Severums are known for being very personable fish. I've raised more than I can remember. Never had any freak out unless they were alone and "surprised" when someone came in the room. The sev may be feeding off the parrot's anxiety, or even the other way around. Bottom line is, a month is plenty of time for a severum and a parrot to overcome their shyness. If not, then you need to do other things to help them along, some of which I suggested.

 

[BlueIce]

I agree with the patience suggestion, time is all you need. Packing the fish in till the tank is bursting is probably not the best solution.

How long have you been keeping cichlids?

 

[Fishy411]

ok, first of all, adding 5 or 6 dithers to a 55 with a sev and a parrot isn't exactly "packing in the fish". C'mon, don't be extreme.


Hospitals have patients.


Patience works with fish. I belive patience is implied when I mentioned spending a lot of time in front of the tank or even moving it to a high traffic area. It is a known fact and a well-established practice that dither fish greatly help cichlids in overcoming shyness. To suggest such a procedure is commonplace and good sense. How can anyone state that dithers aren't necessary?


Severums are known for being very personable fish. I've raised more than I can remember. Never had any freak out unless they were alone and "surprised" when someone came in the room. The sev may be feeding off the parrot's anxiety, or even the other way around. Bottom line is, a month is plenty of time for a severum and a parrot to overcome their shyness. If not, then you need to do other things to help them along, some of which I suggested.

what the heck is a dither?


And pacxking in fish is the best solution with cichlids so that no one fish can take all of the beatings

 

[redgold]

Dirtydogg, I just noticed... is the 55 listed in your signature the same 55 you are talking about? If so, you already have dithers.

 

[lucky62]

ok, first of all, adding 5 or 6 dithers to a 55 with a sev and a parrot isn't exactly "packing in the fish". C'mon, don't be extreme.




Patience works with fish. I believe patience is implied when I mentioned spending a lot of time in front of the tank or even moving it to a high traffic area. It is a known fact and a well-established practice that dither fish greatly help cichlids in overcoming shyness. To suggest such a procedure is commonplace and good sense. How can anyone state that dithers aren't necessary?


Severus are known for being very personable fish. I've raised more than I can remember. Never had any freak out them along, some of which I suggested.

what the heck is a dither?


And packing in fish is the best solution with cichlids so that no one fish can take all of the beatings

A dither is a fish or group of fish [ a school maybe ]put in the tank to hopefully make the " Cichlids" feel more relaxed [ less shy anyway], so maybe you'll see them more .
Dithers are not meant to be subjected to abuse .

A target fish would be what you described in your second sentence .

 

[dothedew]

I have a sev too, and I was told that he would start eating the rummy noses and serpaes that I have with him? What would be a good choice? The tank is 3ftLx2ftHx1ftW (tall, 40ish gallons). He is very personable though, when I got back from vacation, he was either happy to see me, or my dad didn't feed him well, because he almost seemed excited.