Solution to Shy Fish?

[fusiongt]

I have a number of Espei Rasboras that I moved from my 10 gallon tank to a new 25 gallon tank to give them more room to swim. They were a bit shy in the 10 gallon but even more so now in the 25. My setup has a large piece of driftwood with java ferns that lets them hide if they want - which I'm fine with, but not every time I walk by.

My question is will they always be like this or do they improve over time? Since I just moved them in a few weeks ago, I've been giving them more frozen food which they love and will come out even if I'm there (but if I move too much they'll go back to hiding).

It's silly but I just want to communicate to them that I'm not an enemy haha - if I didn't like fish, I wouldn't be keeping them!

[AW0L]

Alot of wild caughts are like that some never change and some get used to seeing you and associate you with food. Keeping some other tank raised fish can sometimes cox them in not hiding. My tank raised cardinals are not shy at all but i got a few wild caughts and they are skittish.

[speedie408]

You can toss in a few nice dither fish to alleviate that shyness. White clouds are a good choice for dither fish. Also since it's a new environment, give them some time to fully adjust to the tank.

[DBlauj]

Plants and cover help also, or it could be as simple as them getting used to the new tank. +1 on the dither fish too.

[fusiongt]

Any other dither fish from south american region? I have room for a small brave-people-friendly shoal heh

(I know espei rasboras aren't from there but going for future fish to be from there)

[Soujirou]

Aren't rasboras already used as dither fish? You would probably need something that really stays at the top of the tank like a gourami to be considered more of a dither fish than a rasbora.

How many rasboras do you currently have?

[Snowflake311]

Originally Posted by fusiongt

Any other dither fish from south american region? I have room for a small brave-people-friendly shoal heh

(I know espei rasboras aren't from there but going for future fish to be from there)

I would give them time. Could try giving them more shelter to feel safe. Where is the tank? Is it in a high traffic zone? How many do you have. They feel safer in numbers if you have 10 or more they might come out more.

I have galaxy danios that never come out when I am looking at them. I am going to try and move them to a large community tank.

I agree wild Caught fish not tame. They hide more then tank raised IME.

[shrimpNewbie]

Give rummynose a try I have four wild and five tank raised all are super brave and even investigate my fingers when I'm trimming or checking on pleco fry, I also try to hand feed once a week with worms or frozen blood worms, the way I see it is I want them to picture food when they see me in the tank and I make sure every time I am near the tank or in the tank I have a treat like live or frozen worms, I'm gonna try out flour beetles too. I think your fish just haven't gotten used to your presence yet but there are things you can do to make your presence pleasant to them.

Ps my tank eat live and frozen only unless I only have my brother to feed them it's just I don't always had feed the little guys I wish you luck

[fusiongt]

Okay I'll give it some more time for them to get used to it. The tank I have is now in the dining area when before it was on the kitchen countertop (I'm in an apartment) so there is more foot traffic now. My cat has also been standing up and swatting at the fish through the glass which is cute but probably isn't adding self confidence to those inside the tank heh

[DogFish]

Wrap some dark paper on 3 sides of the tank for a while. You can even bring it around to the front 1/4 way on each side.

Do this for a week or two. This will also help calm down the new fish.

I've done that with reluctant 1st cichlid pairs that were reluctant honeymooners.

[Snowflake311]

Originally Posted by fusiongt

Okay I'll give it some more time for them to get used to it. The tank I have is now in the dining area when before it was on the kitchen countertop (I'm in an apartment) so there is more foot traffic now. My cat has also been standing up and swatting at the fish through the glass which is cute but probably isn't adding self confidence to those inside the tank heh

I think you found your answer. High traffic zones make for scared fish. The cat dose not help matters at all.

Then dark paper idea is a good one.