My fish won't come out of hiding!

[tinah]

I have a 29 gl that has 5 bleeding heart tetra and 6 cories. . . I think. I'm not really sure, since they all spend their time hiding under the driftwood. Sometimes the cories will come out for a bit, and I can peer at them, but for the most part I am running an empty tank. I thopught about pulling all the plants and taking away the many hiding places, but that just seems wrong to me. Them I thought about dropping in an eel, but realized my camera would probably be out of batteries and no one else would get to see the fun. (jk. sorta.) So then I thought about getting a few danios as dither fish, but what if they hide too? The tank isn't in a busy part of the house, THere are plenty of hiding spots, etc.
Anyone have any suggestions? Throw a pair of GBR's in there? Put in so many plants I couldn't see the fish anyway? Break it down and get a salamander?:wall:

 

[tanker]

Do not just take all the hiding places away. Fish come out when they feel safe. They feel safe when they see other fish are out.

You need some dither fish --Zebras, barbs, gouramis, ect.

EX: If you kid is afraid of going into a closet--you do not throw throw him into the closet just to see him in it. You make him un-afraid of the closet.

 

[batty_bird]

Hi, I would agree. The more hiding places you have for your fish the more you will see them coz they know they can hide at short notice, if you know what I mean. And, yes a few more fish would be good, danions are good and fun fish, and black phantom tetras will display. I have to say I have two corries and I don't see them much so I guess they are that kind of fish

Good Luck and let us know how you get on

XX

 

[Mother Yoda]

You need some dither fish --Zebras, barbs, gouramis, ect.

I have the same issue with my pufferfish (Joe) but the problem is that any fishes I put in there will most likely be eaten at one point or another. Should I put in shrimp instead (knowing that they will be eaten...) ?

 

[bazil323]

No, just more hiding spots. Mother Yoda, what kind of puffer is it? I know some are pretty inactive with a blend in and wait hunting style rather than the usual stalk and pounce style. I'm guessing it's one of the more common ones like a GSP, Figure 8, or dwarf puffer, is that right? Those 3 are the stalk and pounce kind of predator, but they do need hiding spots to feel secure. My F8 is one the skittish ones, and he still hides in the decor most of the time. He's got mollies and bumblebee gobies as tankmates, and he seems unnerved by the mollies' boisterousness. Depending on what kind your puffer is, you might be able to have some tankmates, but I wouldn't count on it. I would not add shrimp, except as food. The shrimp will not make your puffer more secure, but it will probably put him into hunting mode.

Also, how long have you had the fish? Both tinah and Mother Yoda. If you have not had them long, it's possible that they are still getting used to the tank as well. Some fish are confident and are exploring immediately, but most take between a few hours and a few days to be comfortable. Some take months, though that's rare.

Tinah, I'd add a couple more bleeding heart tetras to build up the school a little. At least 2 more. The bigger the school is, the more active and confident the schoolers will be. Cories are similar since they like to be in a group (technically not schoolers). Six is a good number, so you probably don't have to get more but is an option.

I would get either do as above by building up the schools or add another school of smaller fish like neons or lemon tetras. The smaller fish will make the bigger, more skittish fish feel like it's safe to come out. Adding fish like GBRs will probably make them less secure since you're adding a larger predator fish which will probably make them less secure.

 

[Mother Yoda]

No, just more hiding spots. Mother Yoda, what kind of puffer is it?

It's a Eyespot Puffer (Monotreta Leirus).

I know some are pretty inactive with a blend in and wait hunting style rather than the usual stalk and pounce style.

I think that's partially true but it does get pretty active when it sees live prey (shrimp and snails).

I'm guessing it's one of the more common ones like a GSP, Figure 8, or dwarf puffer, is that right?

Nope, see above...

Depending on what kind your puffer is, you might be able to have some tankmates, but I wouldn't count on it.

Based on what I have heard from the Puffer Forums, it would be a very bad idea to house this puffer with anything at all.

Also, how long have you had the fish?

Since this January...

 

[angyles]

As for the OP, I would agree that you should add a couple more bleeding hearts, and then think about a small school of danios or barbs. I've found barbs to be awesome dither fish. Every since I added in my oddessas, my rummy noses have been wayyyyy more active.

For the puffer, best bet would probably be providing a constant supply of gut loaded ghost shrimp so he can always stalk and hunt

 

[tinah]

the tank has been set up for 6-ish months. I kinda thought that was how most fish were until I set up the 55. . . . And realized fish do in fact come out. Okay, rescape today, more fishes tomorrow! I'll let ya'll know in a week or so how it goes! Thanks!

 

[jptjpt]

That's a little strange that bleeding heart tetras would be that shy; they usually aren't. I would put more plants along the back of the tank and maybe some floating plants to make them feel safer. Add a dark background if you haven't done so. You can up the numbers as suggested for a bigger school.

The other thing you can do is spend longer time feeding them. I don't mean feed them more; just be present in front of the tank longer when you're introducing food to the tank. They will begin to get used to you being in front of the glass. The way I train shy fish is that I use a long pair of plant tweezers to pick up some flake food and then introduce it into the water close enough to them so that they won't scatter but come for the food. As they become acclimated to the tweezer and me being in front of the aquarium, I pull the food more into the open and up towards the water surface. This may take several days but eventually, they will become much more receptive to you since they will learn that your presence means they will get fed. I've gotten my dwarf chain loaches, red phantom tetras, cardinals, and even cpds to come out this way. My cpds now come to investigate whenever I stick my hand in the tank. My red phantom tetras (probably most similar to the bleeding hearts) won't even move anymore when I put my face all the way up to the glass. Just be patient; soon you'll have them trust you like your dog would.

 

[jm1212]

adding some more tetras will help quite a bit