FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I have a 20G long with 2 apisto cichlids, and 8 rummynose tetras. Sorry for the quick pictures...


Looks empty right?


All my fish fit into this cave


My water params all check out; no Ammonia or Nitrate and 20ppm Nitrate. My tank looks absolutely empty. I've added some more plants recently and I have had some PVC covered in sand, and a rock pile thinking that they might feel more comfortable. But as you can tell, my tank still looks empty, except for the plants and rocks.

I'm thinking I should just take the fish, the heater, and the filter out and just have it lok the exact same, yet saving all the money.

Or maybe I'll get one of those blue lobsters(crayfish?) to chase them all around the tank so I see them more.

Anybody have any better suggestions? All my friends keep asking me when I'm going to put fish in that tank.


Last edited by mattyboombatty at 20-Oct-2004 16:52

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

What kind of room is it in? Is there a ton of activity, or slim to none? Also, what's the temperature of the tank?

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

that's one key reason why I don't put big hiding spots in my SA cichlid tanks. I just use terra cotta pots, driftwood, and lots of plants.

LM, It's in my bedroom, which I'm in a lot.....but mostly doing homework and say...not dancing around in front of the tank. The temp is at about 79...give or take. Also, my tiger barb tank is directly above it, and they all swim around in the front and middle, and there are some spots to hide in there too.

Chapman, the thing is, that cave really isn't that big. They all just cram in there. But I guess I could take the rocks out and see what happens.


Last edited by mattyboombatty at 30-Sep-2004 13:20

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Ok, I didn't really get a lot of comments on this one, and I'd like a few more opinions. It's now been a couple weeks since I added the (fake)plants to maybe coerce(spp?) the fish out of the rock. It's working a little, but I still don't see them very often. Any more ideas?


thanks,
matt

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Just give them some time. How long have they been in there? If not too long (under a couple months), I think they will start coming out more once they are confident that they do have a good secure place to hide if they feel threatened. It seems counter-intuitive, but the more hiding places fish have, the more likely they are to come out because they know there's a safe place two tail swishes away. Which is especially true about "shy"er species like your apistos may be.

><>

Hi

How about a background

Since you are asking for opinions
On one side have plants and a piece of wood that would extend to the top of the tank with many branches that split off on the way up. There are natural looking "fake" piece that are excellent for this, especially if you don't want the brownish water color. Then I would transition that into rock work of passages on the other end. I would arrange the rocks higher than the slate to form more caves and passages. The slate looks like it is stacked on top of each other not providing hiding spots. Maybe some porous rock that wouldn't affect your water parameters. The addition of more middle tank hide-aways for your fish may encourage more movement, but I think A background would also help.


Last edited by openwater at 07-Oct-2004 23:16

Last edited by openwater at 07-Oct-2004 23:18

Superlion, they have been in there since about mid to late June, which is why I'm a little concerned. I always thought they would feel more comfortable if there were more hiding spots, but it doesn't seem to help. However I do like these fish so i'll keep trying to cram some more stuff in there for them to hide in.

openwater, yeah, I've been meaning to put a backround on there, but I didn't think it would have anything to do with their shyness because nothing happens back there.
There are two fairly large caves in the slate, but I could try to improve on that. I think the big driftwood might be a good idea, I'll have to hunt around.

Thanks for the input, more is still welcome. I'll update to let everyone know how this ends up.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Since you are already open to the idea, maybe you should put in a crustacean to drive them out.

I had a similar arrangement without the plants. When a couple fishes died, I didn't know, and then things got a little ugly, so this is definitely not something to sit on.

In addition to a lobster, maybe some ghost shrimp would help too, since they can be pretty active while occasionally seeking shelter. (They are also cheap.)

Just take the top of the rocks off and don't allow them any hiding spaces. They will eventually start to go about there natural routine. If you take away the source they will have no choice. In my opinion it won't hurt anything. You're just allowing them to abuse the setup.

lets see an updated pic....20 gallon longs in my opinion arent a suitable tank for fish... but if they were, im big into drift wood and live plants they always do the job on re-creating habitat and making my fish feel comfortable...

oh!!#@#! colored gravel is a no

Last edited by illest at 08-Oct-2004 22:31

Just my 2cents worth but I've always noticed that my shy fish seem to be more likely to come out in the open when I turn the reflector off. A 20L is isn't that deep so maybe the light is just too bright for them. Also, I ditto about getting a background. Even if it's crinkled paper.

OK...I went with the backround suggestion, and the Driftwood suggestion. So far, no new plants, but I intend to get some more to cover up that blank spot behind the rocks.

Well I'm sure I scared the already skittish rummys by switching everything up on them, so they probably wont be out for a few days now. Putting the backround on scared them to death....maybe I just got a bum batch of rummys.

Anyways, here are some new pics as requested.....and still waiting for them to uplaod.....do do dooo....longest upload EVER...10 minutes later upload is done. Here you go.

Whole tank.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/matty_boom_batty/detail?.dir=fcee&amp;.dnm=7146.jpg

Just the side with the new driftwood.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/matty_boom_batty/detail?.dir=fcee&amp;.dnm=5f1f.jpg

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Well it seems that I have done about everything I can do to make my rummys happy. I've added a backround, more plants, a huge driftwood, PVC caves, and a nice rockpile. I've filled the school a little more. I've even subdued the lighting. My water is pristine, in my opinion, with about 10 ppm of nitrates since I've been on top of the water changes for the last couple of weeks. Most of the rummys have super bright red noses, which is supposed to be some kind of indicator.

I've gone from this

to this

and finally to this

I've decided that I will give them 2 weeks to settle down and come out of hiding(puts the foot down). If they don't I'm going to take them back to the store and hopefully pick out some different fish that will be a little more active(don't make me turn this car around!). Any last minute suggestions are welcome, as I don't really want to take them back, but it seems to be the only thing I can do. The only thing I'm not willing to do now is to take everything out, cause I really like the way the tank looks now, even if it has two major focal points.

---

Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients