Cichlids suddenly scared?

[Sumpin'fishy]

I have a 5" Jack Dempsey, 4" Blackbelt, 4" Blue Crawfish, and 4" Pleco in a 55 gal tank. They have plenty of rocks and hiding spaces. They have been in this spot for about 3 months (got married and moved into house), and I keep water quality tip-top. Weekly water changes, etc. For more detailed info see my tank specs page link below.

My problem is that for about a week and a half my fish have really been jumpy and wildly run into the tank sides, dash up and down, smack into the gravel, etc. whenever I get near the tank. Sometimes they are fine, others they FREAK. Also, I have been able to feed them by hand for months and now all of a sudden, they don't want me around the tank when eating. They seem to stay hidden until I back off. This is quite strange to me and I am doing nothing different than before. In fact I've even started walking around more casually around the tank just to get them used to me and quit freaking out. I have always been very careful to not move quickly by the tank, make quick movements with hands near them, or to run around them. My friend can do all kinds of things around his fish and it just comes closer and watches!

What's the deal all the sudden? Have I been too cautious around them? Do I need to get them used to me making quick movements and rushing around?

The only thing that may be happening (possibility) is that the JD is not letting the BB get in his way and maybe chasing him around when I'm not watching. I have noticed the BB up in the top corner of the tank sleeping behind the filter outlet. Both fish seem to stay in their "places" or locations more than before. It seems like every time I come into the room the dempsey is in one of his spots (usually one in particular) and the BB is in the top corner. Both look visually healthy and are eating fairly regularly, but just skittish around me, it seems!

Any insight? I'm a little worried about them and don't know what I can do! Water changes don't help this!

 

[Marcus]

Check your pH. A precipitous drop in pH (below 5.0) can cause a condition known as acidosis of which the symptoms are exactly what you describe. Oft times a simple water change will rectify the problem.

 

[cich-o]

So they were normal for the first week? When I remove a holding female from my main tank all of the others are a bit skiddish for 2 or 3 days afterwards. I would just make sure all parameters ar in check and if so then give em a little time. I think it's some form of fishie post traumatic stress syndrome Oh yeah have there been a change in photoperiod or anything? It coud also be that there may be a little bit of aggression between them as they line out therir territories and such, this could make them a little edgy as well.

 

[cich-o]

I misread your post, you said three months not weeks. I don't know that is a little odd, any new pets or loud noises around? I know I used to have an iguana that loved to sit on my tanks and my fish were always a little freaked out from his clammering around up there.

 

[vfrex]

Wow, I'm having the EXACT same problem with my oscar. I tested mostly everything, but never thought to do ph. I'll try that out tomarrow Sorry to leech off the thread.

 

[Sumpin'fishy]

No such luck! I tested pH, KH, and nitrates. I got 7.7pH (norm), 5.4KH (norm), and ~10ppm Nitrates (mid norm). These are all good measures and I always keep up with water changes, checks, temp, and other essentials. Even their diet hasn't changed!

I'm gonna have to go for the aggression thing, even though they have been together for 8 months with no real issues.

Wait.....the only thing I've noticed different was that I fed them freshly laid eggs from my Jellybean Cichlid (no male to fertilize). I put them in right after she was done spawning and the JD got real nasty with my BB and took several good snaps at him, removing some scales, etc. They both wanted those eggs badly!

Since then it seems like aggression has hightened a bit, although nothing really noticable. I haven't seen any tears in fins or damage in about a week and it's been about 2 weeks since I fed them the eggs. Do you think that may have started some issues between them about food supply? My JD seems to rule the entire floor of the tank, but they usually get along ok, even taking turns taking bites of flakes from my hands. BTW, I plan on getting a 75 gallon for these fish for later. It shouldn't be long before I get that. I hope that's enough room for them!