CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I have had an 8" Male Red Devil for two weeks now and he is the most personable fish I have ever had. He always greets me when I walk by and he is very cute. However, sometimes I don't know what his problem is. For no reason sometimes he goes under a big tree root I have and just lays there on his side like he is dying. WRONG! He is just fine and comes out later at night. Other days you can't get him to leave the surface of the tank because he is begging for food. He just isn't aggressive. Some days he will take a nightcrawler out of my hand and other days he wont. Does he need some time to get used to the tank or what? There is no other fish in the tank besides a Pleco. Water is filtered by 2 Penguin 170's and a Fluval 304. Tank is 40 gallons. Water is crystal clear and I do a 40% water change every week. What should I do? He is PERFECT condition on the outside and nice colors. He just isn't aggressive like others say their RD's are. Maybe more aggression will come as he grows bigger? Thanks very much!
Bryson

Strange
I know Rds lay on their sides when they are placed in a bucket of water if you have to move them for any reason, but not usually in the tank.
Do you check nitrate levels as that can stress them out if they are high(over 30ppm)

Do you do the 40% change at the one time? If so try doing 10% three times a week.


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TONY
Australian and proud of it!!
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[This message has been edited by oscar2001 (edited 12-24-2001).]

Yes It is strange
LOL, he has not been placed in a bucket for any reason. So you think it is the water change that is scaring him? It might be because when I do a water change he hides for his life and wont come out for days. Why does everyone's RD attack the syphon during a water change and mine runs like a "cat from a dog"?????????? Nitrates ONLY get over 30 ppm when I don't do a water change one week. I used to do water changes every few days but I stoped because the Nitrates were never over 15 ppm. Now I do a water change once a week and even at that the Nitrates aren't over 30 ppm. OH, BTW, I don't mean he is laying on his side on the bottom. I mean he is laying on his side under the tree root because he can't fit under it right side up.

[This message has been edited by MeAirlinePilot (edited 12-24-2001).]

Fish do strange things... it sounds like you are doing everything right and you have really good filtration for your tank, and water changes once a week is fine. I might do like Tony suggests and space out the water changes, like 2-3 a week. This will make the siphon more part of his normal enviroment. Also 2 weeks really isnt that long... some fish take up to a month to really settle into the tank and get comfortable, so I would just keep going like you are and dont worry.

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Adam

Save the animals, eat a PETA member!
Email me: Adam@duboisi.com
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Thanks very much Adam. Right now he is swimming all over the tank and swishing his tail on the top trying to get my attention. HE WANTS FOOD! LOL Thanks guys.
Bryson

Probably still getting used to the surroundings and the tank cleaning.
Id say give him a few more weeks and he will get his confidence up and then you will have to fend him off with a stick (Like I do with mine LOL)

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TONY
Australian and proud of it!!
Duboisi.com Home of the Oscar Cichlid Fan Club



My Cichlidfish.com Home page

yea hes just not used to the tank yet, I've had my O's for about 8 months and they are just now starting to get agresive towards things i put in the tank(syphon, algea scruber...) He'l be agresive soon.