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My current setup before I get started:

29 Gallon

7 Harlequin Rasboras
2 Moonlight Gouramis.

I have a question about feeding timid fish. My two Moonlight Gouramis are very shy around people, and will always hide when I, or anyone else goes near the tank (unless I sneak up when the room is pitch black). They are out all the time when I am far away from the tank, but whenever I get close, they run away and hide. So this is making feeding them fairly difficult, since I need to be right up to the tank to do so. The Harlies are hardly shy, and devour almost all of the food, and the Gouramis won't even come out, until I've been away from the tank for a minute or so (and by then, I'm sure most of the food has been eaten.

What I have been doing is adding food to one end of the tank for the Harlies (they school wherever my hand is), and putting a little right into the filter current so it gets pushed under right away, hoping that the Gouramis find it later on (they like to rummage though the gravel now and then, and pick on the Java Fern). Is this sufficient? Or should I look into a different strategy/food choice? Right now I'm just using flakes. Thanks!

It's good to feed them both ends of the tank & you can also use slow sinking food.

How long have the fish been in the tank & is the tank light, too bright for the Gourami?.


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They have been in there a few weeks now. The tank light is not very bright at all. They dont seem to be bothered by it. They are active whenever no one is around, but whenever someone comes up to the tank, or enters the room, they hide immediatly.

Maybe you need to treat them to some frozen foods, such as brine shrimp or blood worms to get them more enthusiastic to come out at feeding time.
Have you got enough hiding places and plants in the tank to make them feel safe?

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

I would imagine so, they have a cave that they hide behind (because the main entrance is facing out towards the room). They are often hiding behind the plants near the heater whenever they get scared. I've never used live/frozen foods before (relativly new to the hobby), so any tips there?

I dont think they are a cave dwellers but prefer plenty of top and tall leafy cover.

With the frozen blood worms I would disolve one cube or section in a cup using the tank water. (I stir mine with a wooden chopstick to disolve them first.)
Once the Blood Worms have disolved spread it over the surface of the tank at the front.

Also get a seat or a stool place it to one side not directly at the front and just sit and watch the tank and get them used to you, do this as soon as you feed them. If they are extremly shy one more might help.

I had some very timid Cardinal Tetras in My Betta tank as soon as I added more they came out of hiding. Safety in numbers.

How old are those Gouramis if they are young it also could be a reason.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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I'm assuming they are still young. I've only had them a few weeks, and I don't think they were probably very old at the store. Sometimes if I sit very still in front of the tank, they will come out, but if I would go to feed them, the movement of my arms would scare them away. I don't think I have room for a third unfortunatly.

My opaline/threespot gourami is the same way. He only comes out when I am not by the tank, but when I walk by or go up to it, he hides.

I just try to get food towards the back, where he hangs out behind the wisteria. The neons and glowlights stay towards the front left of the tank, so while they pig out, I make sure some food floats and falls towards the gourami.

I am going to try the frozen bloodworms and see if he will come out for them. He is so pretty, but I just don't get to see him much.

*Kristin*

Do they like live foods? Would they stand a better chance getting them? I'm pretty sure my LFS sells both frozen and live foods. (brine shrimp I'm guessing).

There is always a lot of talk re live foods. Some can import nasties into your tank reason being the water they are in and where they breed. Many breed their own live food I would consider the safest to use.

I prefer frozen Blood Worms in fact I buy 10 packs at a time and use it three times a week. It is extremly easy to keep in the freezer and just as easy to use beside I think all fish love them.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Another option may be to utilize a feeding ring

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=6280&Ntt=feeding%20ring&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1

You could position it directly over where the gourami hide and place the food in it. Thay way it would help to keep the food near where they are.

Also when feeding try turning just the tank lights out as this helps sometimes with timid fish.

Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain