How can I make my little guy more comfortable?

After searching for several months, I finally found a LFS that had Keyhole Cichlids. I was only able to purchase one at that time and I have had him for about a week and a half now. I know that Keyholes are notoriously shy and timid and I was prepared for that. However, he (just an assumption that it's a "he" since he's really young) is still hiding up near the heater at the top of the tank. He used to hide behind some java fern, but that got moved in a water change and it's not the same for him, so he's up at the top. He comes out when I feed the fish, but is very timid then too. As soon as he's done, it's back to the hiding place.

When I saw videos of these fish, I saw them move in and out of plants in some tanks that were not much different from mine. In my tank, it's mostly peaceful fish like Tetras, Corys, a couple Pearl Gouramis. I do have two 2.5 inch EBAs and 2 small female GBRs. The EBAs pay no mind to any particular fish in the tank and one GBR actually likes to hang out by the Keyhole. The other one, which is the larger, more dominant one, will not really pay any attention either, but it's clear that she's the boss.

My question is, what can I do to make him more at home. I know that a heavily planted tank would really help and trust me, I have tried to get it to that. It's just been a 3 steps forward 2.75 steps back endeavor for about 9 months now and the result is what you see in my tank pic below. I have limited plants, some driftwood and plenty of rocks. How can I aquascape some spots to make him more comfortable? Adding more plants right now is just a difficult pill to swallow because I've had such little luck with anything besides Swords and Ferns. I'd rather try to use what I've got.

Any suggestions?

Here's the tank and the Keyhole hiding:

 

After searching for several months, I finally found a LFS that had Keyhole Cichlids. I was only able to purchase one at that time and I have had him for about a week and a half now. I know that Keyholes are notoriously shy and timid and I was prepared for that. However, he (just an assumption that it's a "he" since he's really young) is still hiding up near the heater at the top of the tank. He used to hide behind some java fern, but that got moved in a water change and it's not the same for him, so he's up at the top. He comes out when I feed the fish, but is very timid then too. As soon as he's done, it's back to the hiding place.

When I saw videos of these fish, I saw them move in and out of plants in some tanks that were not much different from mine. In my tank, it's mostly peaceful fish like Tetras, Corys, a couple Pearl Gouramis. I do have two 2.5 inch EBAs and 2 small female GBRs. The EBAs pay no mind to any particular fish in the tank and one GBR actually likes to hang out by the Keyhole. The other one, which is the larger, more dominant one, will not really pay any attention either, but it's clear that she's the boss.

My question is, what can I do to make him more at home. I know that a heavily planted tank would really help and trust me, I have tried to get it to that. It's just been a 3 steps forward 2.75 steps back endeavor for about 9 months now and the result is what you see in my tank pic below. I have limited plants, some driftwood and plenty of rocks. How can I aquascape some spots to make him more comfortable? Adding more plants right now is just a difficult pill to swallow because I've had such little luck with anything besides Swords and Ferns. I'd rather try to use what I've got.

Any suggestions?

Here's the tank and the Keyhole hiding:
View attachment 707459View attachment 707461

Have you tried java moss. I have also struggled with plants and found this an easy one to grow. Also hornwort is extremely easy and grows like crazy. They would both provide plenty of cover. If all else fails maybe go for some fake decorations for a bit.

 

Stack all the driftwood in an elevated pile, as high as possible. Dim the lights or turn them off. Buy additional Keyholes when possible.
Hope things get better soon.

 

Something as simple as a clay flower pot Laying on its side would help give a play of refuge as well as slow you to see him. It looks like your goi g for a fairly natural look though so maybe look for a longer chunk of slate or driftwood. Something you could lean against the glad on either end to Crete more books and fill some more vertical space.

I know you’ve have some plant woes and I remember reading about them! Can’t remember if youve tried Jungle Val yet or not? A little of that mixed through out or a nice thick patch at either end may help and it tends to be a cheaper plant and it reproduces!

 

The little guy is really cute. I think you need to add more hidey holes for him and future keyholes. Give him several to choose from and see which one he picks. Also, I've found that if a fish doesn't like the orientation of the tank, changing around the aquascape tricks them into thinking it's a different environment and makes the alphas give up their staked claim and allows everyone to explore a bit. Keyholes are really careful and shy tho, so go slow and Good luck! I like your tank!

 

The little guy is really cute. I think you need to add more hidey holes for him and future keyholes. Give him several to choose from and see which one he picks. Also, I've found that if a fish doesn't like the orientation of the tank, changing around the aquascape tricks them into thinking it's a different environment and makes the alphas give up their staked claim and allows everyone to explore a bit. Keyholes are really careful and shy tho, so go slow and Good luck! I like your tank!

Thanks for the thoughts! I did kind of change my aquascape around with my WC over the weekend and though it didn't result in anything the first couple of days, he did come down from the hiding spot to eat last night and then pretty much stayed down in the lower part of the tank for the rest of the evening until the lights went off. That was awesome and I just sat in front of the tank for probably half an hour just watching him!!

Then this morning, with the lights still off and the early morning light just starting to come in the room, I see him down in the bottom coming in and out from under a sponge filter. Looks like we're trending in the right direction!!

I did go back to the shop that I got him at on Sunday to get 1-2 more, but one of the 2 in the tank looked very lethargic and I didn't want to mess with him. As the store employee was going to get the 2nd one who was much more active, he noticed that he had an eye issue and advised me not to get him until they get him healed up. So, I'll have to wait for that. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy my guy who is getting braver each day!!

 

Couple of things I'm noticing different than my Keyhole's setup. I had read that they were shy and timid before I got them, but it's behavior I've never seen. Mine glass surf along the front when I come in the room. Boisterous, even. I've got 4, and put them in together, they are social in a way that most cichlids aren't. I wouldn't call them a shoaling species, but ime they really need friends around. That'd be the #1 thing that's causing him to hide in my opinion. Mine will pop in and out of their caves, but they don't seem to be the type of cichlid that NEEDS to have them around, especially with more plants. It took me years to get somewhat decent at keeping plants, I'm not going to preach to you like some kinda ex smoker on this one. Barring that, maybe break things up by putting in some fairly "branchy" manzanita to weave in and out through? Mine seem to like having the tetras around (in an annoying little brother kind of way), if there aren't any dithers in there, that might not be bad. It's early and I haven't made coffee yet, I'll think on this some while I wake up and add to when I can put coherent thoughts together. But friends would be my #1 suggestion, by a country mile (besides, I find it much easier to sex them when there's more than 1.... the males tend to be noticeably bigger, even at that size). Trin's has them in stock pretty often, and they've got cheap shipping.

 

Couple of things I'm noticing different than my Keyhole's setup. I had read that they were shy and timid before I got them, but it's behavior I've never seen. Mine glass surf along the front when I come in the room. Boisterous, even. I've got 4, and put them in together, they are social in a way that most cichlids aren't. I wouldn't call them a shoaling species, but ime they really need friends around. That'd be the #1 thing that's causing him to hide in my opinion. Mine will pop in and out of their caves, but they don't seem to be the type of cichlid that NEEDS to have them around, especially with more plants. It took me years to get somewhat decent at keeping plants, I'm not going to preach to you like some kinda ex smoker on this one. Barring that, maybe break things up by putting in some fairly "branchy" manzanita to weave in and out through? Mine seem to like having the tetras around (in an annoying little brother kind of way), if there aren't any dithers in there, that might not be bad. It's early and I haven't made coffee yet, I'll think on this some while I wake up and add to when I can put coherent thoughts together. But friends would be my #1 suggestion, by a country mile (besides, I find it much easier to sex them when there's more than 1.... the males tend to be noticeably bigger, even at that size). Trin's has them in stock pretty often, and they've got cheap shipping.

I really appreciate all the help here! I was kind of thinking the friends thing. I'm hoping the semi-LFS will get some in again soon and I'll do that. I've had a very bad experience with ordering online.

I'll check out the Manzanita too...great suggestion.

I do have 8 Black Neon Tetras in there and a load of big and small corys, so I was hoping that would help too.

 

I do have 8 Black Neon Tetras in there

It's not so much dither fish (although I do think they help to bring the Keyhole's out into the tank more), so much as it's the social interactions with each other. They really are the most socially needy cichlids I've kept so far, they look like they're shoaling more than the tetras sometimes. A 1M 3F harem is about perfect as a centerpiece in a 55 imo. Even if they aren't the main focus of the tank, they're mellow enough that they'll probably just blend in with the community (as long as the centerpiece isn't one of the more aggressive cichlids). EBA's, Bolivian Rams (not GBR's for temp reason), and dwarf smiling Acaras make awesome co tankmates I'd think. If I do add another fish in with them, it would likely be one of those.

 

It's not so much dither fish (although I do think they help to bring the Keyhole's out into the tank more), so much as it's the social interactions with each other. They really are the most socially needy cichlids I've kept so far, they look like they're shoaling more than the tetras sometimes. A 1M 3F harem is about perfect as a centerpiece in a 55 imo. Even if they aren't the main focus of the tank, they're mellow enough that they'll probably just blend in with the community (as long as the centerpiece isn't one of the more aggressive cichlids). EBA's, Bolivian Rams (not GBR's for temp reason), and dwarf smiling Acaras make awesome co tankmates I'd think. If I do add another fish in with them, it would likely be one of those.

It just so happens that I've got all of those, except the Dwarf Smiling Acaras, in with the Keyhole. Even have a GBR and keep the tank at a steady 80 degrees...it's a good compromise for them all. Perhaps part of the problem is that there are other more established SA Cichlids, including two EBAs that are pushing 3" each and the Keyhole is only about 3/4". Nobody except the GBR even pays any attention to the Keyhole and the GBR only does show to remind him that she's the boss of the tank, much like she does with the Bolivian (who is bigger than her), Pearl Gouramis (much bigger than her), and Tetras.

I think overall, I'm going to get another few Keyholes just as soon as they're in. I did look at Trin's and they are out of stock.

 

So.. I don't know much about cichlids, I just lurk around and soak up random info.. anyway, you said that you have trouble with plants and Cody mentioned your other thread (from last month) about all that so I popped over there for a bit.. So this is in response to your plant troubles:

Many users recommend "inexpensive lighting", but it still costs quite a bit, cause lighting is just a real expensive part of the set up; but IMO and IME, it doesn't have to be.




This is what I use over my 55 gallon: Three 1000 lumen 5k LED bulbs. They are on timers and most of the day only 2 of the lights are on.
To be fair, my aquarium is barely planted and low-light, BUT my husband runs a very similar set up over his 29 gallon shrimp jungle. Just one 1200 lumen 5k LED for 10 hours of the day and a blue incandescent bulb in the evening.




The plants have been thriving, this is w/o ferts and w/o co2. I do think plant selection is a big factor too though. The parrot feather and water sprite do especially well. And you may have noticed he is using black sand similar to yours, too.
I hope this helps!

 

If you're looking for PAR per $, you should look at 50W floodlights on Amazon. Cory did a video review on them where he had a par meter.