Frustrating Fish!!

M

millie3

AC Members
Feb 18, 2007
73
0
0
Reading, MA
Hi everyone--
I currently have a 54 gallon corner All-Glass aquarium with 65 lbs. of live rock. We have a great clean-up crew and all parameters are perfect. ALthough everything seems fine, we have strange livestock. We have a set of percula clowns and a small yellow tang. They all seem perfectly healthy, but they always stay near the back of the tank, where the rock obstructs our view. Therefore, we don't get to see them often. My daughter thinks it may have something to do with the background on the sides of the tank beging reflective; the overflow wall, where they like the hang out, isn't reflective. Could this be part of the problem? Any tips to getting our fish out of the back? Thanks for your help!!
 
It could be stress related..Do you have children that are running around in front of the tank? Does this behaviour change at night when the lights are off?

The reflection could be part of the problem...try swapping the background..some are reversable and have a different colour on the other side...like black on one and blue on the reverse...

Niko
 
Thanks atnixon!!
We don't think its stress related--at least for the Percs--they
ve been here over a week. They eat like pigs and swim around a lot--just in the back. We don't have much activity in front of the tank as far as little kids or things like that. We don't observe any changes at night. The tang is new--so she may still be aclamating. We'll keep an eye on her. We'll try removing the shiny background and replacing it with felt or some other nonreflective material. THanks for the tips!! DO you have any tips on coaxing them out?
 
the behaviour your talking about does come from stress, its common, nothing really to worry about...like you said, changing the background may have a real positive effect on them...Its a common method of disctracting a fish in a tank is to tape a mirror to the glass as it makes them feel as there is actually more of them and they do not realise that its juts their reflection..used when there is a bully in the tank sometimes...

Swap the background and i would say they will come out in time..you could try putting food out in the open for them at feeding times...not really a great lot you can do to coax a fish out...

Try the above and lets see what happens after a day or two..

Keep me informed please

Niko
 
THanks so much!!!!
Good to know we don't have to worry to much. We'll change the backgroung ASAP--we'll keep you posted. THanks again for your help!!
 
Time for fishy Zoloft!!!!
 
You said the Clowns were only over a week in your tank and the Tang newer than that? Yes, they are stressed and haven't had enough time to adjust to the new tank, regardless of parameters. They will be fine, though, just give them a month or so and they will be swimming all over. The fact that they are eating is good enough for now:)
 
True^^^ You could also lessen your lighting cycle (not so much if it's a reef) to allow them more dark time, they will generaly use this to explore the tank and establis a teritory!!
 
I agree, I think it's just that they are so new to there surroundings and are uncomfortable coming out to play right now :dance2:

Also with shortening the light times temporarily I might suggest to make sure that the room lights are on a little before the tank lights and a little after.. this will help simulate dawn/dusk and encourage them to come out of the rocks into the open water while you can still see in the tank... That little trick works great on coaxing shrimp, crabs, and stars out as well... However, If they are primarily night feeders like emerald crabs, it won't make much difference...

Give it a try and let me know if it helps
-LS
 
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