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I have eight in my Betta tank. During the day when the tank light is on there is usually only two out and about, when the tank light go off they all come out.

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Keith

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This photo was taken with the tank lights off.

The algae problem is being treated at the moment by Sera Plant Enhancer Pack

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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?
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Well Keith, Cardinals are known to be a bit sensitive when it comes to bright light. They are blackwater fishes after all and for instance you need to block out close to all light to be able to breed them (or so everyone says).
I don´t know what kind of light you´ve got on that tank but considering the algae problem it´s probably a bit brighter than those Cardinals would prefer, maybe some floating plants or black water tonic could do the trick.
Mine are normally out all day but then my lights are not really enough to get good plant growth so it´s a compromise.

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So here I am once more...

Replace the substrate with a darker one, that can make a huge difference. A few floating plants to cast shadow can be good too.

How long have they been in there? It usually takes a little while for them to settle in. The floating plants is a good idea

Cardinals don't like alot of light & they usually stay in the shade.
How bright is the light in your tank?.


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The lights are both 15w more details in My Profile.

The substrate is a natural colour and changing it is totally out of the question.

I do not have any full size floating plant (cannot buy locally) but I have several small pieced from my 5ft tank but this will take a while.

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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

Natural colour yes, but I doubt the tank is of natural depth, the lights will be close, hence the problem. If you cut down on lighter surfaces there will be less refractive light in the tank, thusly happier tetras.Tetras are iridescent, and they know it, in a situation with high levels of refracted light they are visible from all angles, black gravels are a handy way of dropping light levels near the bottom without depriving your plants. If you look at your tetras from above they dont look as bright as from the side, this is why you can get away with top lighting. You could chuck some cork bark on the surface to create shadow if plants arent available.

Last edited by longhairedgit at 30-Nov-2005 21:44

Thank you for that suggestion re the cork I have plenty of natural cork I use it for backing orchids.

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

Although I have pretty bright lighting in my Panda Fun Palace™, I also have a wealth of shady spots for Cardinals to hang out in, including my bogwood arch, and the area around my bogwood 'boot' that is playing host to some sprigs of Hornwort floating around the top. Plus, the Amazon Swords produce a fair amount of shade under their leaves now that they've grown!

Consequently, my Cardinals would be out and about even when the light was on, and showed no signs of shyness.

Mind you, interesting behaviours I've noted include my infamous 'cave dwelling Cardinal', that I later determined was a male, who seemed to be intent upon trying to entice a female into one of the caves in the bogwood 'boot' to spawn (the fish in question made display motions toward those other Cardinals that were fuller in outline, presumably females), and the occasion I had them spawn once - the spawning pair performed their mating under the bogwood arch. So, yes, I'd definitely say they were shade lovers.

Since they're in your small Betta tank, your options vis-a-vis floating plants are probably limited. If they were part of the menagerie in your big 5ft tank (unlikely as you having fishes in there that would eat them!) then you could opt for Water Lettuce, Pistia stratiotes, as a floating plant that would look natural and provide ample shade.

You could always try Hornwort floating in there as I've done in the Panda Fun Palace™. However, watch how fast it grows - I've known it put on three inches of length in a day when conditions are to its liking!



Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002