Hiding fish

[aardvark1]

Just started a cichlid tank (29 gallon with plants, filter and decorations from old tank)

Bought two Blood Parrot Cichlids yesterday (or at least that what PetSmart calls 'em). First 4-5 hours, both were all over the tank, checking out their new neighbourhood. Then they started hiding; one behind a plant at the back of the tank, other in a hollow stump.

Normal? Or will they soon get used to things and start appearing out in the open?

Like to sit and watch the fishies; sorta hard when all you can get is a fleetin glimspt!

[onepawnup]

warning you are gonna get flack for having the bood parrots ..apparantly they are dyed to look like that and thats not a cool thing

That being said I inherited 4 blood parrots with a 180 gal tank
(a little over 3 inches ) and the are great and the first ones to the top when its feeding time .so I have no experiance with their hidding but maybe they just need a little time
Onepawn

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

29 gallon is too small for *shudder* blood parrots... did you keep the filter cycled during its transfer?

Testing the water daily will let you know what is going on in the tank. What are your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings?

-Diana

[sumthin fishy]

Not all blood parrots are dyed. Its usually the "jelly bean" parrots or "candy parrots" or "some other interesting name parrots" that are dyed(bllod parrots injected with color). In any case, they are deformed hybrids which is why they are lloked down upon. Of course, they are still a living creature, and merrit the same care and respect we would give any other fish. Tank size issues asside, they will take a few days to get used to the tank, and should come out more often. If not after a week, I would begin to get slightly worried.

http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

[aardvark1]

These are Natural colored; ones darkish tan with a blueish grey stripe near tain and the same colored spots on fins and tail' the other is dark grey with black vertical stripes.

Got a book on cichids yesterday and I found out they were hybrids; I'm not a pureist, so that is of no bother to me. They are neat lookig fish, which is why I got them.

Filter and element was from old established tank as were plants and decorations; sock (clean!) full of gravel was inserted in tank. Tested the water last night, ammonia is zero as well as nitrite, nitrate read 5.

Thinking about it, maybe it's my sock in the tank that has them scared! :eek:

[mooman]

It's not the sock. :) Blood parrots can be very timid fish. LFS has a huge display of like 15 in a 300g tank, and they bold anytime someone gets within a few feet of the tank.

Sounds counterintuitive, but adding more structure can sometimes help bring cichlids out. Just knowing they have lots of hiding places makes them more outgoing. Adding some "dither fish" will help also. Any of the larger tetra species should work.

[aardvark1]

Update:

Added one of my black veil tetras to the tank, and lo and behold!, I saw the parrots for the first time since Sunday night.

The brown one will follow the tetra all over the tank, then go back to it's favorite hiding spot for awhile. Black one isn't quit as bold will go about 12 inches from his spot behind the plant.

Much better!

[onepawnup]

[QUOTE=sumthin fishy]Not all blood parrots are dyed. Its usually the "jelly bean" parrots or "candy parrots" or "some other interesting name parrots" that are dyed(bllod parrots injected with color).

hmmm how do you tell? I inherited mine with a new tank they are oranges red in color ?

[sumthin fishy]

I dont know of a surefire way to tell, havent really thought of it. The are naturally(err, man-made-ly) orangish in color and i doubt they would dye them a simmilar color, the bright red, blue, green purple or multi colored ones are deffinatly dyed. There is a pic in the link I provided under the commonly dyed species.