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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / February 2004Did I give them too many hiding places ? (fish not seen very often)
Hello, We have recently (ie last week) populated our new cichlid tank. It is a 220 litre tank and has a custom built background, complete with loads of "caves". See http://fish.alansilver.co.uk/Mark3/ for more details of the tank, background, caves, etc. Anyway, the first fish went in last Tuesday (17th Feb), twelve assorted cichlids of the "beginners" variety !! For a couple of days, they swam around fairly visible, exploring the caves but not really using them too much. On Thursday, I dropped a whole pile of Java Moss in the tank, mainly to make it look nicer. My hope was that the moss would be able to grow faster than the fish could eat it. I don't know if there was any connection, but the fish hardly came out after that. They seem to spend most of their time hiding under the rocks and moss, or in the caves in the background. A few seem to have a favourite cave, but often they all just pile into the two lowest ones (back corner of the tank). Even when they are swimming around, as soon as you go near the tank they all disappear. So, did I provide too much cover for them ? Are they going to come out more when they are more settled, or is it feeding time only ? I intend to put more fish in as I was advised that this tank can house about another twelve. Will this help ? Any comments welcome.  SignatureAlan Silver PSG Fish Tanks - http://fish.alansilver.co.uk/ > Hello, > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Any comments welcome. Alan, That tank you built is FANTASTIC!!!! I love the background! also the write-up! I have an acrylic tank, I only have two port holes, so I could never put a background like that into it... >That tank you built is FANTASTIC!!!! I love the background! also the >write-up! I have an acrylic tank, I only have two port holes, so I >could never put a background like that into it... <blush> Thanx. </blush> Did you read the horror story that went with the background ? That gave me a hard time. I'm glad to report that the fish have been a lot more visible today. SignatureAlan Silver PSG Fish Tanks - http://fish.alansilver.co.uk/ > >That tank you built is FANTASTIC!!!! I love the background! also the > >write-up! I have an acrylic tank, I only have two port holes, so I [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > I'm glad to report that the fish have been a lot more visible today. man I felt bad for ya when I read that story but you prevailed and it looks great. If you have Mbunas in that tank then they will spend most of their time hiding in the caves, that is just the nature of the fish. I have got around this somewhat and what I did was get 6 P. saulosi juveniles. I put them in a 10 g tank with no place to hide. Every day these little guys would wait for dinner and it got to where they would get excited as soon as I walked into the room When they were big enough I moved them into the larger tank with my "hiding" Mbunas and they act like dither fish. Now all the fish come out to see what the big commotion is when I walk in the room and my little buddies the saulosi are making that possible. Rick >man I felt bad for ya when I read that story but you prevailed and it >looks great. If you have Mbunas in that tank then they will spend most [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >commotion is when I walk in the room and my little buddies the saulosi >are making that possible. The breeder who sold me the fish reckoned that I should see them more when I get more fish in. At the moment there's only 11 (one died, sniff) in a 220 litre tank. He reckons that with about 24fish, there will be more activity. I hope so, I can't do much about the caves now !! I thought about blocking one or two off, but it's hard to see how I would do this without making it look ugly. SignatureAlan Silver PSG Fish Tanks - http://fish.alansilver.co.uk/ I've got 24 in a rio 180 (yellow lads & p. zebras mainly) in an ocean rock & sand setup & they are always out front looking to see who is coming & if they are going to get fed. So I think your lfs is probably right! Good luck! Dee > >man I felt bad for ya when I read that story but you prevailed and it > >looks great. If you have Mbunas in that tank then they will spend most [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > blocking one or two off, but it's hard to see how I would do this > without making it look ugly. Alan, Super stuff! I've being toying with the idea of making a background like this & your wonderful description may just have given me the confidence to proceed. One question (though perhaps many more to follow... what size were the cichlids you stocked with - its difficult to get an idea from the photos? Rgs, Sky. ps Question 2 - Where did you get hold of the epoxy (B&Q)? > Hello, > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Any comments welcome. >Super stuff! I've being toying with the idea of making a background >like this & your wonderful description may just have given me the >confidence to proceed. One question (though perhaps many more to >follow... what size were the cichlids you stocked with - its difficult >to get an idea from the photos? Most of them were (still are !!) about 1 1/2" long. A couple were bigger. >ps Question 2 - Where did you get hold of the epoxy (B&Q)? I got the first lot on-line, but then found a local supplier which was more convenient and cheaper. I used the West Systems epoxy. If you are in the UK, then contact Wessex Resins (01794 521111) and ask them for your nearest supplier. You want the fast hardening version as it will save you a lot of time. HTH SignatureAlan Silver PSG Fish Tanks - http://fish.alansilver.co.uk/ Alan, Cheers - I'm in Northern Ireland so I'll give them a call. I'm sort of glad you said your fish were 1 1/2 long as this is the inly size I can get my hands on locally. Are you stocking to the old rule of thumb (6 mbuna to the sq ft of floor space? Regards, Sky > >Super stuff! I've being toying with the idea of making a background > >like this & your wonderful description may just have given me the [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > HTH >Cheers - I'm in Northern Ireland so I'll give them a call. I'm sort of >glad you said your fish were 1 1/2 long as this is the inly size I can >get my hands on locally. Are you stocking to the old rule of thumb (6 >mbuna to the sq ft of floor space? I am going on what my LFS (actually a local cichlid importer/breeder rather than a normal LFS) told me. He reckoned that I could get about 24 fish in there. The chap in the LFS said the same as it happens. This fits well with the rule you quoted. 24" cube tank gives 4 sq ft of floor, which is 24 fish. SignatureAlan Silver PSG Fish Tanks - http://fish.alansilver.co.uk/ |
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