How to help scared fish get out of their shell

Not sure where this goes so I apologize if it needs moved.

So yesterday picked up a baby Betta and baby red honey gourami, Betta is doing great in the 20 gal, ate right off the bat super active, a bit skittish but mostly fine. However, my female baby red honey gourami is the most skittish fish I've ever owned, even more than my kuhlis! She hides almost the entire time, hasn't eaten yet (but I just got her yesterday afternoon so she might take a day or two), stays at the bottom. I'm almost positive it's not health related due to watching her from a distance and looking at her behavior (she's breathing normal and she definitely can swim.) Plus, last night I had a super dim blue light on and she was very active and acting like a normal fish. I'm almost wondering if I should have her and the Betta swap tanks. (The 20 gal at the moment has no lights at all so it may be an easier transition, plus it has other aquatics in it) the issue with that is even though it doesn't have a light it also doesn't have a hiding spot that isn't taken over by loaches. Would she feel more confident with another type of fish in there?

This is just one of those things where I have no idea.

 

Keep the lights off for a couple days is what i would do. Or run the dim light during the day if the fish did better with that.

 

The light is for you (and plants), not the fish. The fish would probably choose dim light if given the choice, especially a new and stressed fish.

 

Just want to say that she is a pretty little girl! Hope she settles down soon...

 

Gouramis (and bettas) always feel more comfortable when floating plants are present in the tank.

 

Gouramis (and bettas) always feel more comfortable when floating plants are present in the tank.

I want to put red root floaters in, but I need to find a Hobbyist near by that sells them

 

I would keep the lights off for a week or 2, and consider dimming the lights after that, I put layers of wax paper between my light and the glass hood. I don't know if that is an option for your tank, You could also consider dimmer lights. But He will probobly get use to things.

Be carefull with floating plants, bettas and gourami are anabantoid fish and they need easy access to the water surface to breathe. floating plants can grow fast.