nickyblase
Member
Just over a week ago (9 days or so), I put a spotted toby in my 65G semi-aggressive tank. The other inhabitants were: Picasso Trigger (pretty mellow), Koran Angel, and a green chromis.
The first day or so after going into the tank, the toby was chased a bit by the trigger, but not actually attacked or harmed at all. He's been hiding in the rocks for the most part (there is a LOT of LR in this tank).
After a week, he is still only really coming out to eat, and if the food isn't in multiple areas of the tank, he will not eat - i.e. if the food is only in an area where the fish already are, he won't make his way over there. I've been trying to make sure that the food goes into both ends of the tank so he can get some food in peace, but it's a little hard to predict where the fish will go.
Anyway, I thought it might be a good idea to add a couple new fish to help alleviate his new-guy shyness, thinking that he may be a little more comfortable with new fish coming in after him. I put in 2 black & white damsels (I know, I know - nobody likes damsels!), but they can certainly hold their own in a tank like this.
They went in this past Saturday, and have been doing fine. One of them actually had the audacity to poke at the trigger a couple times yesterday! I HOPE they don't pick on the toby.
I guess the long way around my question is this - how can I help the toby feel more comfortable in the tank? I've always thought that they were up-front swimmers. For those of you who have them - did they take a while to feel comfortable in their new surroundings? I know some fish (like betta's) can take a couple months of hiding before coming out other than to eat.
I'm worried that he is hiding because he isn't well. He IS eating, so I'm taking that to be a good sign, but since he hides so much, I find myself looking for him several times a day to make sure he's still alive. I had gotten into the (bad) habit of feeding twice a day to make sure he was still in there. Although the other fish are PIGS and eat whatever they are given, the nitrates went up, so I've stopped doing that....
Any ideas?
The first day or so after going into the tank, the toby was chased a bit by the trigger, but not actually attacked or harmed at all. He's been hiding in the rocks for the most part (there is a LOT of LR in this tank).
After a week, he is still only really coming out to eat, and if the food isn't in multiple areas of the tank, he will not eat - i.e. if the food is only in an area where the fish already are, he won't make his way over there. I've been trying to make sure that the food goes into both ends of the tank so he can get some food in peace, but it's a little hard to predict where the fish will go.
Anyway, I thought it might be a good idea to add a couple new fish to help alleviate his new-guy shyness, thinking that he may be a little more comfortable with new fish coming in after him. I put in 2 black & white damsels (I know, I know - nobody likes damsels!), but they can certainly hold their own in a tank like this.
They went in this past Saturday, and have been doing fine. One of them actually had the audacity to poke at the trigger a couple times yesterday! I HOPE they don't pick on the toby.
I guess the long way around my question is this - how can I help the toby feel more comfortable in the tank? I've always thought that they were up-front swimmers. For those of you who have them - did they take a while to feel comfortable in their new surroundings? I know some fish (like betta's) can take a couple months of hiding before coming out other than to eat.
I'm worried that he is hiding because he isn't well. He IS eating, so I'm taking that to be a good sign, but since he hides so much, I find myself looking for him several times a day to make sure he's still alive. I had gotten into the (bad) habit of feeding twice a day to make sure he was still in there. Although the other fish are PIGS and eat whatever they are given, the nitrates went up, so I've stopped doing that....
Any ideas?