Do fish like new scapes?

Hey! This is an opinion poll just for fun! However, if you have reasoning to backup your answer please comment! I wouldd love to hear everyone's views and opinions!

I want to re-scape my aquarium but my pictus catfish has hid in the same cave of the same decoration for four years! I feel bad removing the decoration but it would not go with the new scape. Should I feel bad about taking away his spot or is it good stimulation to have a new environment where he has to scope out another spot?

How often do you re-scape? Do you think it is stimulating for the fish or stressful?

 

I voted unnecessary stress, but that is pure guesswork. And I would not consider it a significant deterrent to doing a rescape. I am planning some rescaping. I have also read that a rescape can be a good thing to do before introducing new fish if you have any concerns about conflict. I have read that rescaping can reset territory and allow new fish to more comfortably join a community tank.

 

If a person has aggressive or semi aggressive fish, a rescape can stimulate aggression as they all need to establish new territories.

As for your example, removing a favorite cave could cause him temporary stress. But if there are new caves, he will find a new spot.

 

I voted unnecessary stress also because of the choices! lol I recently re scaped my tank and moved and removed things. I did however leave my Rams rock in the same corner that they lay eggs in. Other than the egg layers I think they adjust ok.

 

When introducing new fish into an established community of aggressive fish, rearranging the decor breaks up territories. This makes for a better chance of survival for the new guy.

 

If a person has aggressive or semi aggressive fish, a rescape can stimulate aggression as they all need to establish new territories.

As for your example, removing a favorite cave could cause him temporary stress. But if there are new caves, he will find a new spot.

Good to know! My tank I guess falls into the "semi-aggressive community" tank perhaps; I have one otto, an angelfish and a pictus catfish at the moment and they all get along swimmingly (lol). Perhaps because they have been in there so long together and I have never changed anything! I would definitely be including multiple new caves for him to chose from! I would love to build some by glueing rocks together

When introducing new fish into an established community of aggressive fish, rearranging the decor breaks up territories. This makes for a better chance of survival for the new guy.

I plan on adding a L134 pleco once my LFS gets some back in stock; I heard they are very peaceful but in the event that my pictus decides to be aggressive that is a good tip! He's never shown aggression (besides eating invert tank mates), but Ive also never added anything large except for the angelfish but he was tiny when I got him.

I voted unnecessary stress also because of the choices! lol I recently re scaped my tank and moved and removed things. I did however leave my Rams rock in the same corner that they lay eggs in. Other than the egg layers I think they adjust ok.

That makes sense! Good thing I have no breeding fish pairs (yet )

 

I'm missing an option as well. I'd say it depends on what fish you have and what kind of rescape.

I tend to only rescape when there is a possible problem. Last time I had to remove a part of the original tank configuration, to be precise a casing in which filter and heater went. It was preinstalled. Why was it necessary? I noticed lately, it's springtime. So the water evaporates faster. Evaporation means waterline goes down. Possibly, if lockdown is lifted during summer, while I'm asleep or not present. The casing was quite high in the tank, meaning the pump could fall dry easily on a summer day. Now I have the freedom to put filter and heater whereever I want, meaning I can put them temporarily lower than the waterline so it can't fall dry. This involved "rescaping" that side of the tank by removing the bed of leaflitter, where the cories loved to look for worms. Otherwise I have just moved a rock.
Do they like it: No idea. I mean, I see changes in behaviour, but no negative changes at that.

Do fish like new scapes though?

I don't think they are able to really appreciate it, but they rarely can hide if it has positive or negative effects on them. I've noticed over time, that when fish show natural behaviour or great colours the owner is happy. We tend to interpret this as active appreciation for our work. I don't think so. Often my rescapes gave me OCD anxiety because I all but liked some. Well... then my fish showed the behaviour I hoped for. I now if possible only do rescapes that I hope benefit their needs, not mine and only if I see it necessary.

 

I just move the things in the tank around, sometimes I put something new in sometimes I don't, when I'm done I sit back and let the fish and frogs tell me what they think and go from there.

 

I have only been keeping fish for about six months so I cannot claim and typical practices. I went from zero to six tanks in six months. I enjoy setting up a new tank and a new scape. I have not put much thought into the process up until now. I will need to stop setting up new tanks and satisfy my set up drive with rescaping.

 

I think Mother Nature rescapes everytime there is a flood, drought, earthquake, ect.
The fish that survive such rescapes likely take advantage of the changes according to their particular needs.
Rescapes, probably not that big a deal to aquatic creatures. Just part of life.