gouramis acting different

[Lady G]

I have 2 neon gouramis and they have always stayed pretty much toward the top of the tank, but the last week I have noticed that they are always hanging out at the bottom of the tank except when I feed them? Could this be a sign of stress or is this normal? BTW I did recently rearrange my tank a bit could this be the reason?

 

[Holly9937]

Have you tested the water lately, to eliminate that as a possible problem? What are you getting for results? The rearrangement shouldn't have caused a problem. Have you done anything else different lately?

 

[Ghost_knife]

I would think they are slightly scared from the recent changes, My neons do that all the time when I took out a terra-cotta boat because the resident fish living in it was getting too big for inside it so I took it out and the neons hid for about a week, I think it's normal from what I have observed in the tank

 

[Lady G]

Yes, I have tested my water and everything is fine as far as that, for some reason I was getting high nitrIte reading but through frequent water changes that has come down to normal agian. I am overstocked so I usually do between 30%-50% water changes every 3 days. After the nitrIte spike I upped my changes to about 20% everyday until it went back down now I am back to every 2-3days.
I have done nothing else different besides changing the tank around alittle. I got a couple new plants and needed to rearrange alittle, actually I did move everything around alot I guess, I don't think anything is in the same spot. I hope that is all it is (them getting use to the new surroundings!)
Thanks for the responses.
Gin

 

[Ghost_knife]

that should be the cause for the shyness in the Neons

 

[Lady G]

Ok thanks for the peace of mind, I love my guys (if they are "guys") not sure how to tell, and I hate the thought of loosing them. I can't wait until I can get my new tank so I can buy another.
Just to update a little, I have noticed tonight they seem to be going more toward the top again (not much but more then the last few days).

 

[Ghost_knife]

give them time to get used to the new arrangement and they'll be happer then a clam