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Hi all,
I read a post here a few weeks ago about scaring Cichlids, not that I want to or am advocating people to scare their fish. The post was, and I am paraphrasing, that cichlids have fear from things above them because that's where the predators come from.
Sounded okay to me at the time, now I am definitely in agreement.
I'm not a short guy, 6' plus and when I or my wife, who's somewhat shorter, walk past the tank the Electric Yellows scamper into the rocks. I noticed today that when my 6 yr. old daughter, who's somewhat shorter than both of us, walks past the fish don't dart away as quickly nor hide as deep within the rocks. It has to be the fact that I look down on them, or more to the point I am above them.
To test this observation I crawled toward my tank, lo and behold the little blighters just stared back , still a bit skittish but they didn't dart off the hide.
Glad no-one saw me crawling on all fours toward my tank!

very interesting. I have trained mine not to fear the food bringer...

My Labs and Acei associate just about any person in front of the tank with getting fed. Thus they come right up to the glass where you're standing in anticipation of food.

Occasionally my labs get spooked by something and they'll hide in the rocks. The Acei seem to fear nothing.

Hopefully, no definitely, in time they will get used to the food bringer. I've only had them a fortnight so with time they will be fine.
Just an observation with my first tank of cichlids. Probably the other fish do/did the same but now are used to the food bringer.

yes they were scared in the beginning, but now are happy to see me. Cichlids are great fish. Keep up with them and they will love you for it.

its true but my electric yellow soon to be getting more doesn't get scared of me he is cool and i only got him 2 days ago cichlids are the best must be an exceptional fish i guess... i love my trewavasae lots but he has attitude and rules my tank

thats very not true with mine mine put there face at the glass as if looking for food