NEW IDEA I THINK

[Freenow54]

So cleaning my glass and an idea popped into my head and need feedback. Since my fish seen to hide in the rocks . I wondered in my new Tank what would happen if I left an open unlighted area ? Would the fish be more willing to swim freely ?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

There's a concept called "Dither Fish" in the aquarium hobby that you might need to incorporate. Essentially a few smaller fish that are either oblivious to new threats or don't seem to care. Since they will stay out and about when you come up to the tank, your more skiddish fish won't be as quick to run and hide.

I have a couple damselfish that serve that purpose in my tanks, they don't care about me messing around with the tank unless my hands go in the water, at which point they and the other fish will find a place to hide.

I don't think an unlighted open section of your tank will do much to deter their need to hide, in fact it might make other things worse such as territory aggression since there will be less places to hide.

 

[Waters]

So cleaning my glass and an idea popped into my head and need feedback. Since my fish seen to hide in the rocks . I wondered in my new Tank what would happen if I left an open unlighted area ? Would the fish be more willing to swim freely ?

I am sure they would.....works in freshwater tanks. Anything that makes them feel more comfortable (whether it be more hides or darker areas in the tank) will make them more inclined to act natural.

 

[exnisstech]

I guess I'm lucky because almost all of my fish get excited when I approach the tank. The only time they hide is when the lights go out. I even have a new copper band in observation that swims to the glass and wiggles around when it sees me and it has only been in 2 weeks. I try to get my fish to see me as good not something to fear. My trick is food. Lots of small feedings, almost like treats are coming whenever I'm close. I feed large meals with frozen but I keep flake and pellets as treats through out the day. When I'm sitting on the couch all the fish hang out at the end where they can see me.

 

[Subsea]

There's a concept called "Dither Fish" in the aquarium hobby that you might need to incorporate. Essentially a few smaller fish that are either oblivious to new threats or don't seem to care. Since they will stay out and about when you come up to the tank, your more skiddish fish won't be as quick to run and hide.

I have a couple damselfish that serve that purpose in my tanks, they don't care about me messing around with the tank unless my hands go in the water, at which point they and the other fish will find a place to hide.

I don't think an unlighted open section of your tank will do much to deter their need to hide, in fact it might make other things worse such as territory aggression since there will be less places to hide.

Yes to dither fish. I use Pajama Cardinals.

I guess I'm lucky because almost all of my fish get excited when I approach the tank. The only time they hide is when the lights go out. I even have a new copper band in observation that swims to the glass and wiggles around when it sees me and it has only been in 2 weeks. I try to get my fish to see me as good not something to fear. My trick is food. Lots of small feedings, almost like treats are coming whenever I'm close. I feed large meals with frozen but I keep flake and pellets as treats through out the day. When I'm sitting on the couch all the fish hang out at the end where they can see me.

I must be lucky also. Fish come to the front when I approach tank. This week, I added a Butterfly to the tank. Even when I add my hand to the tank, they gather about to eat as I often blow stuff off the rocks.