Odd Behaviour

[Luca Brazzi]

I just bout 2 C Boreyli (spelling). They seem to spend alot of time in one corner of the tank going UP and DOWN,UP and DOWN,UP and DOWN,UP and DOWN.

Get the picture?

And they are constantly active... darting around, flaring up, etc.

My water is fine...

Any comments?

[Kit Walker]

It sounds like they are having a stressful time settling in. Does your setup have much driftwood, cave structures or any plants? These items can help fish feel more secure and help them settle in. Many fish will cower in a corner moving up and down if placed in a bare tank because they feel threatened.

[Luca Brazzi]

These are Africans so there are no plants. There are alot of lava and tufa rock. Lots of hiding places.

Tonight I noticed another interesting occurrence.

I put these fish in the tank on Saturday, and Sunday, until tonight, they have all been very skittish... hiding out under the rocks (except for the one that kept going up and down). Tonight when I came home I noticed that all of them are now spending alot of time in the middle (verticle) of the tank, out in the open. When I came home they were all darting around in the open. I guess they are feeling more comfortable with their tankmates. They have also started watching me when I approach the tank for feedings...

I wonder if they will become more wary again if I throw some more fish in there. I plan on adding at least 6 more to the tank.

[Kit Walker]

Sounds like they are settling in slowly. I've found my african cichlids to always be a bit skittish, as oppsed to South Americans.

[Luca Brazzi]

I noticed that the first thing an African does when you put it into the tank is look for a place to hide.

I think that they are becoming comfortable in the fact that they wont be eaten... yet. None of them are big enough to eat the other yet. I did get a Venustus though... its only about 2.5 inches now but it already ate one of the feeders. I had 4 rosy reds in there, and the Venustus ate half of one of them. I removed 2 and left 1. So far that one I left has been holding his own, although I think Im going to remove him to because he just doesnt fit in. While the cichlids are busy darting around flaring at one another, the rosy is left out in the cold to swim around in a corner of the tank by himself.