Squidlet Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 Hey everyone For the last month now all my fish have been hiding at the bottom back of my tank. I haven't changed anything in the layout, the pH is the same its always been for the last year, I do water changes every week and the nitrates, ammonia etc are normal. They come out at feeding time but throughout the rest of the day they hide, and if they do happen to come out they scatter and hide again the second you walk near the tank. This is really frustrating as I have another tank, and none of the fish in there do that. The temperature is 26, the tank is well oxygenated and none of them actually look sick on the outside. There fins are all up and they dont even look stressed. There are about 4 mollies, 8 young swords not yet sexable, a breeding trio of bristlenoses and about 5 baby bristlenoses. The tank is 75L. I am completely stumped on what to do. Any idea? I tried taking away some of the stuff they were hiding behind but they all just freaked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 try adding more hiding spots, might make them more secure. is the tank in a high traffic area do you have any kids??? (the worst culprits) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 What he said. 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squidlet Posted June 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 Nope no kids, just me and the family friend I board with. My tanks is a planted tank, so I'm limited to what I can move, but theres heaps of driftwood and hidey holes, they use them too often! Has anyone used scatter fish that dart around and bring the other fish out? Like danios? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos & Siran Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 Not sure if this is helpful or not but we noticed that our khuli (who we never saw and assumed had died) has become a lot more active since we added our new fish, we think all the activity has made him more social. Might work for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 try some golden barbs as dither fish, i've never seen them hide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squidlet Posted June 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 Hmmm yes I am thinking some other fish may help, only concern would be if the new fish started hiding too! I may try removing the plants at the back of the tank to see if that brings them out. My tanks not big enough for a school of golden barbs and and I put young mollies and swords in when they are big enough to not fit in their mums mouths, o would be a bit concerned about them becoming lunch to the barbs lol. But perhaps some a school of small tetras like harlequines? Any other ideas for some good dither fish? Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted June 23, 2012 Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 or some form of danio. if your tank too small for a school of golden barbs, it is too small for swordies which will grow to 12cm, the mollies will also get to 11cm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squidlet Posted June 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2012 The tank size is fine for my mollies and swords. The swords are juveniles only and almost sellable size. They won't be in there much longer. I believe you need at least 8 in a school for schooling fish, and I cannot fit 8 golden barbs in my tank on top of what I already have due to the size they will get. At the moment I am almost at my stock limit - I have done the calculations for cm of fish to surface ratio. What I currently have is fine in my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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