I have two juvinile oscars that constantly hide behind my filter gear. Occasionally they come out to feed but that's just about it. Is this normal or is there something wrong?
Oscars hiding
- Thread starter QCppg
- Start date
I wouldn't call it abnormal, My young oscar does the same thing. This isn't typical with oscars, but I've had a few do it over the years. Try to work on training them to come to the front of the tank for food, eventually they will quit being skittish. With mine I'm still working on it. I had to set up a web cam just to make sure he's still in there and healthy. as soon as I leave the office he comes out and swims around. as soon as I walk back in he hides.
Dave
Dave
I had noticed this with my African cichlids too. And my dad's rams. Heh, d*** antisocial fish. Oh well, as long as they do wind up eating.
I certainly understand you frustration, no one but me ever sees my fish, and I don't get to very often. the 115g tank, looks empty most of the time but somewhere in there are 6 fish hiding and waiting for me to walk away so they can come back out and play :sad :sad
dave
dave
Thats how my Pl3co is. (Except when there is cucumber or squash in the tank. 
)
I think it has a lot to do with getting used to his/her environment (maybe)
I read somewhere that someone trained their Pl3co to eat from their hand.....possible?
I know Oscars are trainable...buddy had one like that. The ones I see at Wal~Mart, they have NO FEAR..they will get face to face with me, and approach the glass when people are around.....they are cool fish.
) I think it has a lot to do with getting used to his/her environment (maybe)
I read somewhere that someone trained their Pl3co to eat from their hand.....possible?
I know Oscars are trainable...buddy had one like that. The ones I see at Wal~Mart, they have NO FEAR..they will get face to face with me, and approach the glass when people are around.....they are cool fish.
Oscars can be timid fish as juveniles, do you have your tank near a door? cause a lot of fish dont like the traffic of people going in and out and closing doors this could be scaring them its not recomended to keep a tank by a door.
Alternativly you say they are hidding behind your gear, is there a lot of water movement in your tank cause must cichlids come from areas of flooding stagnent still water and dont like a lot of water movement.
Or another option how bright is your lighting cause again in the wild they are used to quite muddy waters and they could be shying away from bright light, perhaps adding a surface floating plant will give them a bit more cover to come out.
Alternativly you say they are hidding behind your gear, is there a lot of water movement in your tank cause must cichlids come from areas of flooding stagnent still water and dont like a lot of water movement.
Or another option how bright is your lighting cause again in the wild they are used to quite muddy waters and they could be shying away from bright light, perhaps adding a surface floating plant will give them a bit more cover to come out.
When they are young it can take some time for them to get used to people and movement around the tank. If the aquarium is in an out-of-the-way location, it can take longer. Adding some kind of floating plant can help make them feel more secure.
Playing with the lighting is often helopful too. You can move the light to the very front of the tank and cut off the lights in your room. This makes it harder for the fish to see you. After it comes out and swims around a little you can spproach the tank and drop in some food. The fish will feel the vibration of your approach and it is better to drop the food in without moving the light, like into one of the holes in the top. It won't be able to see you real well but it will learn the vibration can mean food.
You could also turn out the aquarium lights and turn on the lights in the room and sit there. He'll come out and look you over and, once he gets a little comfortable, drop in some food.
Playing with the lighting is often helopful too. You can move the light to the very front of the tank and cut off the lights in your room. This makes it harder for the fish to see you. After it comes out and swims around a little you can spproach the tank and drop in some food. The fish will feel the vibration of your approach and it is better to drop the food in without moving the light, like into one of the holes in the top. It won't be able to see you real well but it will learn the vibration can mean food.
You could also turn out the aquarium lights and turn on the lights in the room and sit there. He'll come out and look you over and, once he gets a little comfortable, drop in some food.
This tank is in my bedroom, and it gets very little traffic though it is near the door. The tank is planted with hornwort cuttings, and the only lights in the room are the tank lights and a kerosene table lamp which is only lit for a couple hours every few days (I like using this after my fish's "lights out" time because it gives me enough light to do what I want and doesn't seem to disturb the fish).
And I will agree with the part about the fish learning that your approach means food... I used to keep my fish food in a drawer beneath my angelfish tank, and when I shut the door it generally startled the fish, but then they would all rush to the front of the tank because they knew food was ready!
I do have a 175 watt mercury vapor light rigged for portable indoor use, I can try illuminating the room with taht for ahwile and seeing if the oscars come out. Thanks.
And I will agree with the part about the fish learning that your approach means food... I used to keep my fish food in a drawer beneath my angelfish tank, and when I shut the door it generally startled the fish, but then they would all rush to the front of the tank because they knew food was ready!
I do have a 175 watt mercury vapor light rigged for portable indoor use, I can try illuminating the room with taht for ahwile and seeing if the oscars come out. Thanks.
QCppg said:
That is part of the problem. Young fish are always skittish, but if they are in high traffic areas most of the larger cichlids get used to seeing people and realize they don't have to be scared aslong as these are the types of people that like to knock on the glass and stuff. When there isn't a lot of traffic, the get to be like puppies who aren't well socialized and remian nervous.