Scared Mbunas?

jmarsh3253

jmarsh3253

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Apr 11, 2007
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I have a 55G soon to be 75G Mbuna tank in my home office. I have a lot of rockwork, swim thru areas, etc. I have had them for 4 months from the time they were 1-1/2"s. Anyway, they have always flocked to the top of the tank everytime in come in the room, stand up from my desk, or move toward the tank...food grubbing little buggers :) . Just yesterday, when I walked into the room, they scattered to their hiding places like they were freaked out. They are now coming out while I'm sitting at my desk, but when I stand up, they are gonzo immediately to the rocks. I don't know of anything that happened that would change their behavior so dramatically and so quickly?! Anybody have this happen to them?:confused:
 
Check your water parameters - either something's stressing them or something happened to give them all a good start while you were out of the room (toddler whacking glass repeatedly w/ a toy, cleaning person backing vacuum into tank... something like that).
 
I checked my water parameters...0,0,10...so they look OK. I was in the office all day, and nothing "loud" happened...weird!
 
Any remodeling or other activities that would induce floor shaking, rumbling or anything like that? Is there a fluorescent light flickering or broken heater (water temp off, or ground fault due to cracked cover)? Is the filter working normally?
 
Good thought...actually, in another adjacent room, I was moving a desk and I kind of dropped it down rather abruptly. Both my office and the room are upstairs, so it could have shaken the floor more than I thought. I've been giving them small bits of food a couple of times this morning to reassociate me as the nice food bringer guy...they seem a little more sure of themselves but still real skittish. Thanks for your brainstorming.
 
that might have done it alright. parameters look great so shouldn't continue to be a problem.

just another thing worth thinking about - have you got the lights on a timer ? if not get one - they love routine.
 
I've noticed mine do that as well at times. I think it may be weather related, mine tend to do it when we are under high pressure systems. They are more skittish and tend to hide. Like you my water parameters are all good and nothing untoward has happened.
Just a thought anyway....
 
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