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I have a 30 tank with 3 p. socolofi and 3 Yellow Labs. They are all younge. The cichlids are always hiding. I very rarely see them out swimming. There is a lot of rockwork in the aquarium aswell. How can I make them come a lot more?

That's the problem sometimes with mbuna - they're true rock-dwellers and nothing makes them happier than hiding out in their caves. Which is very ]:| for those of us who want to see their pretty colours!

Are they still juvis? I think adults tend to come out a lot more, partially because they don't fit in quite as many little holes as they used to. Also, could there be too much current, and they may be hiding from it?

Do they hide all the time, or only when people are in the room? Try spying on them without them actually being able to see you - my mbuna can sometimes be quite skittish and dart into hiding as soon as they see movement in the room. But if they're alone, or if they've gotten used to me being around, they're out and about (and, if I look as though I'm going for the food under the tank, they go into a frenzy and rush to the spot where they always get fed).

Other than that, it may be a good idea to remove just a few of the rocks in the tank. I'm a bit iffy about this, because as fishkeepers our first priority should really be making the fish happy instead of ourselves, and mbuna do love a really rocky tank. Perhaps you could just rearrange the rocks so that there are still caves, but they are rather large and you are still able to see the fish inside them?

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde

mine do that somtimes i fine that they come out when they think there is nobody there so i just sit/lie on my bed and watch its quite cool lol.

How many hours a day is your tank light on? Maybe they would come out more if your lights were on less. Will they come out during feedings? I know that my Mbuna tend to gravitate to one side of the tank when they know they're about to be fed.

it could be the size of the tank also. i moved my yellow labs and acei into a 55 and they completely changed. give them some time to grow up a bit too. they are pretty shy when young and will hide alot as they have to be on the lookout for fish that will eat them. once they realize the tank is safe, they may come out more. just be consistant with them and they will be ok. a bigger tank will help, if that is possible. i have also used dither fish (danios, rainbows). these fish swim near the top and give the mbuna the all clear siganl. only get a few.

The mbunas are juviniles. The largest is only about 2inches. The problem is that when I first got them, they wouldn't hide, but now they don't come out as much. They will come out when I feed them, but they don't dive up as much as before. I didn't move the rocks and now they are quite timid.

I'm thinkin that now thier territories are all set-up and they've had a chance to adjust to the new surroundings, their just being cichlids

They see you as a threat or predator when you approach the tank. My Tropheus are a perfect example...
When i pass they scatter into the rockwork, but if i sit in a chair a few feet away from the tank out they come in a matter of minutes

So i don't thinks it's that their all together shy but more, very aware of their surroundings and just being them selves

I solved the problem. I rearranged all the rocks and added a second pot for a cave. I then put another rock in the middle and now they will come out. They will still scatter when I walk by but not often.

The scattering when you walk by part will get better once they learn you aren't going to hurt them or anything. Mine still do scatter a bit though, so I think its just an instinct you can't change. They come right out when they are hungry though. lol

Yeah, my Lab. Perlmutts used to hide until I got my Ps. Saulosi. Now everyone is out. Sometimes they hide, but most the of time they're out.

Like a couple have said, they hide because they see you as a predator. Eventually they'll see you as the food source. When I walk up to my tank now, they ALL dart to the top. Funny seeing 15 fish just fly to the top.

One thing that helped my come out and be more comfortable too was keeping the lights off for the first week.

Eventually they'll see you as the food source

Hopefully not too literally!

Though, as anyone who has been nibbled on by their mbuna knows, it's a possibility...

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde

Yellows are a shy bunch to begin with. Aceis are a good fish to add with them because they are active in open water. with fish out in the open yellows think its all clear and come out. fish way of thinking is pretty simple, no other fish outside there must be a reason lol.
i have yellows and socolofi right now in a 75g and they are pretty active. mostly because the socolofi chase them all over the tank lol. been tryin to fix that but not working might have to get drastic. anyway few things you can try is leave the light on in the tank and dim the lighting in the room. being light in the tank and dark in the room they cant see past the light. another thing, try to make over hangs. over hangs block line of site so they arnt so worried about whats above them.
enjoy your cichlids, trust me it only gets better from here

Might I suggest increasing the number of feedings and decreasing the amount at each feeding for a few weeks, so long as you see each fish is able to get some food.

This might help reinforce the fact that you are a food source. You come around the front of the tank and good things happen!