Stressing Out Fish

Can you stress your fish out by moving around decorations too often?

 

Yes

 

I imagine so.

 

Yes. Only do it occasionally, like if you ever remove the fish from the tank

 

Yes. Especially African cichlids, particularly Mbunas. They’re very protective of their territory.

 

I say yes. I had a few mollies at one point and I moved maybe 2 things in the tank and didn't take them out first and they all stopped eating and died. Now whenever I move anything I take my platys out and I try not to move things often. And I only do it if I need to.

 

Hiding spots are their place of refuge

 

So it’s ok to do it if the fish are out of tank?

 

I’m the only one saying, “It depends.”

If the tank is heavily planted, and you are moving 1 or 2 decorations, it should not impact the fish. Or if you have say 10-12 decorations and you are moving one or 2, I say no issues.

When you move or remove the majority of the hiding places and sight breaks, you may see stress, or significantly different behaviors.

Just my experience.

 

I only move decor when adding/removing plants (live plants) or when I add/remove fish (for African cichlids). No one seems overly stressed, I can throw in a some food during and even after moving things around and everyone eats and begs for more rather than trying to hide.

 

My fish are so used to me doing things to/in their tank they just accept it. One time shortly after I got them one of my black skirt tetras lost most of its color but they are all used to me now so nothing I do bothers them. So like Hunter1 said...."It Depends" on what they are used to

 

Thanks everyone!!

My fish are so used to me doing things to/in their tank they just accept it. One time shortly after I got them one of my black skirt tetras lost most of its color but they are all used to me now so nothing I do bothers them. So like Hunter1 said...."It Depends" on what they are used to

I am a very indicative person, and I tend to change all the decor around often. That being said, I've had all my fish since juvenile and I've always been this way so maybe they're used to it? I haven't lost any fish , and everyone keeps their color. One of my fish hates it but some of them even hang out by my hand/arm and others just chill on the moving decorations. Guess it does depend. I'll tone it down a but regardless. It's stressful process for ME having to take everything out and change it around :
p

 

I agree that it depends on the personality of your fish. I have a very out going Betta that doesn’t care what I do to his tank, but I also have 4 albino Corys that will trip if I slightly tilt a piece of driftwood.

 

I agree that it depends on the personality of your fish. I have a very out going Betta that doesn’t care what I do to his tank, but I also have 4 albino Corys that will trip if I slightly tilt a piece of driftwood.

And I agree with that.

I do water changes 2Xs a week in most of my tanks. The fish seem better about the time the tank gets 3/4 full. Maybe i’ Lucky and have easy fish but they never seem stressed from me manipulating the tank.

I have guppies, platys, mollies, honey gouramis, 4 type of corys, Cherry barbs, pearl gourami and zebra danios, and a couple of BN pleco, all easy fish.

The only fish that hide are the sterbia corys. My peppers in another tank actually bump into my hand when I’m manipulating decor, or vacuuming.