Hiding Firemouths

J

jym_dastardly

AC Members
Jan 12, 2007
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Evening! I have 60 ltr tank with 2 kribs which are an amzing colour and they have just laid! I also have 2 firemouths which are well coloured and in good condition but they always hide. I have a swimming area and a good area of cover at the back half/right back corner (which is where they hide). They eat with the rest of the fish but never swim around the tank, can anyone help:help: ? I have a interpet beauty bulb and i have cut down some of the light from this but they still won't come out. I don't yet have a tank backing, do you think this will help? They are fit and health and i've had them for around 6 weeks not but they just hide which is a shame as they are 2 amazing fish.

Please shed any light on this if you can.

Jym
 
You most likely need more cover. If there is only one corner with sufficient cover then the fish will be reluctant to give it up. I would shoot for logs, plants (plastic is fine) and driftwood covering a full 3/4 of the tank bottom. Only leave a thin strip up front, and if you want, a slightly thicker strip on the left or right as open swimming space. The more places to hide the less the fish will use them. cheapest alternative will be rocks from a landscape supply store (rock yard)
 
Cool - thanks for that! I thought that might have been the answer. I will invest in some cover for em. I will be investing in a new tank soon to house them as they have grown lots since i've had them.

Cheers
J
 
i would more think it's because your kribs just laid and are very protective. i think 60ltrs is about 25g if i'm not mistaken. they really need to be in a larger tank or two seperate ones. i had a couple of kribs in a 20g myself and once i did more research i found out a 30g is really the suggested minimum. then add them breeding on top of that and they'll own the whole tank. right now my breeding pair of kribs is in the 46g tank and before i moved my school of barbs they really kept them confined to one side of the tank. kribs as well as firemouths are supposed to be more peaceful as compared to other cichlids but that changes quickly once they start breeding. i hope some additional cover helps for the moment (tho i have to say mine actually went after the others even while they were hiding. out of sight out of mind - not with my pair) but if it's a 60ltr and not 60g they raelly actually need a bigger tank or seperate ones. especially with a bunch of babies on the way.
i'm still learning a lot myself and don't feel all that comfortable giving advise but thought i'd try to help out since i had something similar going on.
 
oops, sorry, just saw that you're already planning on getting a new tank. i think maybe a 50g - something in that area (should be like 200ltrs) - might work for your two pairs (if i'm way off please someone correct me) and then you could use the smaller tank for the fry once the parents stop taking care of them and start breeding again ( and they will :) )
 
Cool - Cheers for that. I think it's a bit his and miss with firemouths as i pretty much has the same setup 2 yrs ago when i last had fish, they all swam around happy together! grrr Never mind, hopefully the new tank will sort em out, got to get a new filter as well. They are an amazing colour, i just wish they'd come out more hehe.
 
Agree with biancaj. I read it as 60g (my mistake). In that size tank you can keep the kribs if it is of the longer design (30in long), but not the firemouths. I would think they would coexist in a 55g but have no personal experience to back this up.
 
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