TigerBarb27

Ever since I moved everything in my 30 gallon tank around like a month ago they have been hovering on the sides of the tank.Not doing nothing at all,they come up and eat but 5 min. later they go back to the side like their avoiding the light or somthing.Why are they doing this?

Devon

Poor guys.

What are your water parameters in that tank?

TigerBarb27

All I know is temp,78,and pH which is around 6.

Lucy

Hey TigerBarb, you should get yourself a test kit, the API master kit is very accurate and a lot of the members use it.

Devon asked about your water because if there's something unusual going on it's best to rule out water problems and go from there.

Do you have plants, caves? some where they can hide and play in to make them feel secure?

Tom

Is that all that's in the tank? Cause there could be something that they are afraid of and making them hide against the side.
Tom

Dino

Weirdly, the more places you give a fish to hide, the more they are out and about. Though I don't think caves would be something they would use.
What else is in the tank with them?
They actually come from tree covered streams/rivers, so equate bright light as danger.
Lots of plants for them to swin thru and around would help them to be less skittish.
Also, they are a schooling fish, so do better the more there are of them in the group ( allowing for what the tank can properly house).

Tom

[quote=Dino;408297]Weirdly, the more places you give a fish to hide, the more they are out and about.QUOTE]

It's because if there are more places to hide, they feel safe cause if there is danger, they will have very little distance to go to hide and protect themselves.

But Dino is right about the habitat and the schooling part. So it could also depend on the amount of other harlequins in the tank with the ones you are worried about.
Tom