zowie717

I got 4 juvenile african cichlids last week and they come out of hiding when i am not by the tank or walking by. but they dart into cover when i am around. is this normal? will they adjust? i was told they have great personality and will recognize owners.

aquarist48

Sounds like it could be normal behavior. Water chemistry ok? ammonia, nitrites, nitrates? I'd give them a bit more time to adjust.

Beth1965

I purchased 2 BR parrots 2 1/2weeks ago, this morning was the FIRST time they came out to eat--together, no less. One seems to be more at ease than the other, the one would come out of hiding more often. But this morning was great, seeing them both out at the same time (i bet they got pretty darned hungry!!)
Beth

Angela_96

It will take a few days but they will eventually come out.
Even my fry in my fry tanks takes a good 3 weeks to come out to the front of the tank. I usuallly have to move rocks to count them until they get used to me.

When they do get used to their new surroundings, your cichlids will be like little doggies begging for food and attention.

Jupiter

I have recently gotten African Cichlids. (Last 2 weeks) The timid ones are already warming up and like Angela said begging like dogs. But the first few days I would stand back from the tank and toss the sinking pellets in so they would go after them. If I was standing to close they hid.

zowie717

I hope so, I thought I created too good of hiding places!, caves for them!. 3 of them love the right side of the tank with the driftwood and holy rock and then the bubblewall is behind that. the other (blue one) which I call mumba loves the left side with the slate rock that i created a nice little cave pushing down in the gravel. I was trying to get them on a normal feeding schedule but since they hid when I put the food in sometiems they come out and see it and other times they dont. I shut off my bubble wall and air stone thingy when i feed so that they can see it and give them time to find it. I cant wait to get more and am hoping they adjust. I have had them for almost a week now. my water parameters as of yesterday night was ammonia 0 , nitrite 0 , nitrate 5ppm. My pH is not a high end test, so I have to go get one of those today after work. but appears to be 7.6 to 7.8.