What is it that makes fish scared?

[Cory]

It really bothers me that my fish panic and swim away and hide when they see me. What is it making fish scared? Any ideas?

Ive thought water quality.

Space?

Lighting?

Species?

 

[McMullen]

Perhaps the fear of a large predator coming to eat them. They have tiny fish brains......

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I know one thing for sure that makes them scurry in fear.....my teenage son standing in front of the tank flapping his arms like a regal tang's pectoral fins! lol

 

[Cory]

Lol

Anyone been snorkeling in a reef? Are they equally scared?

 

[McMullen]

Snorkeling they are fearful. However, when you scuba dive fish accept you as one of them! It is AMAZING to be apart of Gods creation in such an incredible way!!

Fish of course won't allow you to touch them but they don't mind your presence.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Fish of course won't allow you to touch them but they don't mind your presence.

That might be true in the wild, but my yellow tang lets me pet him! lol

 

[McMullen]

Lol! Yea, in the wild. Fish in my tank generally associate me with food, thus come to top of tank!

 

[Cory]

Lol. Ive found when i dont feed my fish for 12 or more hours, they are a lot less scared. When i feed them every 2 hours, they hide.

 

[Cory]

That might be true in the wild, but my yellow tang lets me pet him! lol

Really? Yellow tangs seem to be the most scared kf them all. Can you give some info on your tank?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Really? Yellow tangs seem to be the most scared kf them all. Can you give some info on your tank?

It's nothing special. A 125 gallon tank with a 55 gallon sump. Now, to be totally honest, he only lets me pet him when there's nori in the clip ;)

 

[eliramos]

I've always thought about that with any animal. Like I'm not trying to hurt you I just wanna look at you. But they don't live in the same world as we do. To them if something is getting too close it's trying to eat you and it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[revhtree]

Funny topic! :)

 

[revhtree]

I thought this photo was fitting...

 

[reefwiser]

It really bothers me that my fish panic and swim away and hide when they see me. What is it making fish scared? Any ideas?

Ive thought water quality.

Space?

Lighting?

Species?

They see you coming. [emoji3]

Best way is to feed them so they know you are the food person. I have a basslet that follows my hand around in the tank when I am doing cleaning during a water change. I have watch out for her as I am afraid she will be sucked up the water changing hose. [emoji3]

 

[mute0514]

Anyone that owns a clown fish that is used to his home knows the troubles of not having him be afraid of you. Those jerks are not scared to nip your hand at the first chance they get!!! LOL

 

[LuckyEd]

My clownfish eats out of my fingers. My other fishes only hide when I run my hand between the light and the tank. IMO, the shadow reminds them of a bird lurking above them.

 

[Perk Heid]

I bought a tank raised yellow tang and it immediately adapted to the feeding schedule , and had no fear of me. People ment feeding right from the beginning. Other new fish , I find lose their fear if I just move real slow and spend time standing in front of the tank before I feed them.

 

[Tautog]

Not all fish get scared, in fact everything that you could have swim in your tank wouldn't scare at all if you only took a swim with them. No kidding! I just came back from Discovery Cove at Sea World in Orlando, Fl. At their Grand Reef swimming area, there's over 60 different varietys swimming in a 1/4 acre space, no deeper than 10 feet. None of these fish, Rays, tangs, yellow, blue, black, Nash's, grouper, and bait fish as well. Also, about 30-50 kids to grandpas. Just a incredible day to swim and see everything in an hour. A must do in Orlando.

 

[bbearden101]

My clowns bite at my hands if I get to close to the nem it's always fun on nem feeding day my chromis will come up and swim in my hand if I leave it in the tank long enough I try to hand feed atleast once a week tho to get them use to me reaching in the tank. (Don't know if this is working or not) however I have tokey geckos as well and if you come near them they will corner themselves, bark, and if you keep creeping closer they'll bite. I've kept these guys for around 2 1\2 years now and not yet have I been able to actually hold them or get close without them biting

 

[NeiDan]

Really? My Midas Blenny and SW mollies see me as the almighty food god. My Midas almost always starts swimming front and center if he sees me stand up. The pipefish don't really seem to care about me much either way. When I put my hand in the tank it's a different story. The mollies seem indifferent, the midas retreats to his hole and the pipefish still don't care. I'd say that as long as you aren't making sudden movements and are feeding regularly the fish will generally learn to tolerate you, depending on the species. Even jawfish, which tend to startle easily, will learn to love and praise the food god.