Shy Kribs

[rbradbury]

My Kribs are ultra shy. They only come out at feeding time and if I remain perfectly still. The slightest muscle twitch, they dart back in to the plants and pots to hide. The are juveniles at 2" long. Is this normal behavior? Will they not be shy?

[jabbott]

I did not see that at all when I had kribs. I'd look at how many you have and their tank mates. Too few fish, dealing with bullies, or a high traffic tank location can make them nervous, but that's just fish in general - not kribs specifically.

[Jake]

Not sure I agree with some of that. My tank is in the living room. I have two YOUNG children. They are always zipping by it or touching the glass. They love to watch them feed and swim around the tank. As a matter of fact, all the fish in my tank come and visit the front of the tank when someone is sitting there. :D

My GBRs actually will swim into my hands! The babies included. But then again, I am in my tank alot and it seems that they have learned that "The Hands" feed us and give us plants! roflmao

It might be that there is not ENOUGH activity, so when there is they shy away! Or just not enough tank mates to have them feel comfortable! Think dither fish! :hehe:

[Erniec]

My Kribs are ultra shy. They only come out at feeding time and if I remain perfectly still. The slightest muscle twitch, they dart back in to the plants and pots to hide. The are juveniles at 2" long. Is this normal behavior? Will they not be shy?

Any tankmates with them ?

[jabbott]

Not sure I agree with some of that.

Right, every tank is different. My point was more about there being lots of possibilities. I never was good at training my fish to do tricks...

[JMatthew]

I find this happens a lot more with single species tanks. Usually, once I add more fish if a different species then everyone comes out to play!

[Jake]

My bad! I didn't mean it to come off harsh! Just is that all my fish were VERY jittery for a while. Until I had a good little community going and they got used to me and the little ones!

:D

[rbradbury]

They are in a single species 20g tank. I Right beside the tank is another 20 gallon full of endlers. They are in my front room with large 90 gallon tank. The other thanks have any issues. In fact when I come up to the other tanks, they all rush over because of the possibility of feeding time. There are just 12 Kribs in their thank. I have small pots and densely planted. I could add another type of fish to stir them up.

[rbradbury]

I have found out what I did wrong. After moving most of them to forevernight's setup, they were very active in his setup. The difference was he stacked lime stone for them to swim around, where as my setup was only plants in the tank. He mimicked their setup much better.

[Jake]

So, adding the stone gave them something to hang around and feel secure with? If that's true . . . what do Neons like to swim around? :hehe: Oh ya . . . my guppies . . .