[jamie]

I started a 30g a few months ago, it's now well planted, fishless cycled, cherry shrimps and snails have been in a few weeks and last weekend I introduced 30cardinal tetras. Water's tested fine (0's) for amm. nitrite and nitrate. PH is around 7.5. I've done small water changes (-5g) just to be safe. Fed sparingly, crumbled flake and 1-2 black worms at a time.

My question/dilema is that the entire group seems to want to spend all their time hiding in/behind a java fern! For the first few days, they schooled beautifully, back and forth at the front of the tank... then I come home from work thinking they all died. The tank is in a higher traffic area, but it's only me and it's not like I see the school hide when I walk by. They come out during feeding, and there are some that explore.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to encourage them to the forefront? I'm going to black out the sides, and once the weather gets better I'll collect some wood to create more cover at the top.

 

[kevinli1021]

I started a 30g a few months ago, it's now well planted, fishless cycled, cherry shrimps and snails have been in a few weeks and last weekend I introduced 30cardinal tetras. Water's tested fine (0's) for amm. nitrite and nitrate. PH is around 7.5. I've done small water changes (-5g) just to be safe. Fed sparingly, crumbled flake and 1-2 black worms at a time.

My question/dilema is that the entire group seems to want to spend all their time hiding in/behind a java fern! For the first few days, they schooled beautifully, back and forth at the front of the tank... then I come home from work thinking they all died. The tank is in a higher traffic area, but it's only me and it's not like I see the school hide when I walk by. They come out during feeding, and there are some that explore.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to encourage them to the forefront? I'm going to black out the sides, and once the weather gets better I'll collect some wood to create more cover at the top.

If there is too strong of a water current they tend to hide in the back. That is my best guess.

 

[jamie]

That could be a definite issue. I have an aquaclear50, and eheim 2215 canister. The hob is set low and the out tube of the eheim has enough extra holes drilled to reduce spray to a trickle, but the gph is still there regardless.

The cards are right beside the eheim intake and airstone, which were placed behind the java fern to be hidden. Which is as far away from any outflow current as they can get.

I've turned off the hob, and set the air lower.

I forgot to mention there is a single t5 HO light. Next try is to place something over the tank to create a shadow. If they move into the shadow maybe I'll have to create some overhanging wood or whatever.

And I do have to remember it's only been a week.

 

[colio]

My cardinals were active in the front of the tank for a while, but eventually seemed to be hading in the back behind many of the plants, schooling back and forth along the back wall more or less. Then, I added a few fork-tailed blue eyes, who are very active little fish. Now the cardinals are happily swimming all over the place.

Sometimes, an active "dither" fish can be the solution to bringing out shy fish.

 

[Dee2010]

Try getting some larger fish like rainbows, had 30 cards in my 40 planted and they always hid until I put in three sub adult discus which managed to push the school into the open.

 

[jamie]

Try getting some larger fish like rainbows, had 30 cards in my 40 planted and they always hid until I put in three sub adult discus which managed to push the school into the open.

I had thought of that, but wanted a single species tank too much maybe. From what I've read neons and cardinals might act like 'alarm' fish to other species in the area, so they probably spend more time surrounded in the wild. Maybe they're acting like there's a predator around? Cutting the current helped a lot, but they're still very skittish.

The community tank is phantom-skirt-neon tetras, corys and white cloud minnows. Everyone gets along, does what they do out in the front.

The cardinals need a friend or two.