Yellow Lab Cichlid not eating

Hi! I have a little mystery to solve. So I have a 75 gallon cichlid tank. It had 6 african cichlids, however my yellow Lab was constantly shoved in a corned behind a decoration where the others couldn't get to him/her. I believe it is a her because the others were doing a weird shaking dance when she would come out. So I got tired of her being in the corner constantly and I moved her into a 20 long with 1 cave and some fake plants. She has not left the cave and has not eaten. I'm worried about her and would like a little guidance. I was thinking she was sad because there is no sand, I don't think she is lonely because I've put her with just one of the others and they still chase her around. She is the smallest out of everyone, that's also why I wanted to move her, so she could get bigger and defend herself is need be.

 

I would take out the other fish that is still shoving her around. She is not competing with them for food so has probably given up. Take the others out to see if she will come out and eat. You or I probably wouldnt be rushing to the dinner table if we had to fight a few people to get a few scraps of food

 

I already have her in a 20 long by herself. That's what I was saying, sorry, I took the lab out and she is by herself and not eating anymore.

 

Sounds like typical cichlid aggression, basically she was being bullied too crazily.

Anyways, give her time. She is probably currently still super shy and scared. Feed her everyday, take out food if she does not eat them in a few hours. Eventually she'll grow hungry and come out.

Cichlids generally don't care that much about its environment, except just to need a hiding hole of some sort. Cichlids can generally be happy even if a tank's completely bare bottom and the only thing present are PVC pipes.

Be careful. Now that this one is out, some other cichlid may be bullied instead. Generally with cichlids it is better to have more fish than less.

 

Oh ok I thought you moved her in with other fish??? "don't think she is lonely because I've put her with just one of the others and they still chase her around" is there fish in the 20 long chasing her around? If no other fish how long has she been in there without eating ?? She might still be nervous thinking there are other fish still in the tank.

 

That fish is in very bad shape, likely overstressed and I wouldn't be surprised if it had some parasites. A 20 gallon is by no means a good long term home for a fish like this. Adding only two fish to this is worst case, as now there is no other focus for the aggression but the Yellow Lab. "reintegration" back to the main tank is unlikely to work.

The shaking can be spawning display but also a warning before actual attacks. As roughed up as the fins are, the fish was (as often with Yellow Labs) the whipping boy of the tank. Mbuna (the group to which Labidochromis belong) are known to be very aggressive, hard to balance out and in my opinion no option if you can't stand any aggression in your tank.

Can you post a picture of the main tank?

To be honest, I'd rethink keeping these fish if I was in your place.

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