Neons Just Stay At The Back Of Tank All Day.

[Keithoms]

All day long about half of 6 neons in my tank just float in the back of the tank behind some plants. When i feed they coe out but within 10min they are back at the back again. Is this normal?

 

[tyyrlym]

How long have they been in the tank. My neons all hid in the back when they were first introduced. It took them two days before they'd venture out into the open.

 

[Sunny_Bee]

Is there a lot of traffic near your tank? Last year my tetra tank was in a hallway in our apartment, so people were constantly walking by. My fish got very very shy and all hid except when fed. When I moved the tank they eventually relaxed and came out more. I also arranged the tank a little so that they'd still have hiding places, but not quite as many.

 

[Keithoms]

Theyve been in a while, 2-3wks. Not much traffic, just my bedroom, only me going in and out quietly. They all seem to have come out now and are floating in one corner looking out .

 

[tyyrlym]

What are your water parameters? If they're feeling stressed they can hide too.

 

[Keithoms]

Params are perfect

Ammon: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate 10-15

 

[tyyrlym]

Any other inhabitants of the tank? Could they be getting bullied?

What kind of cover do they have? If the tank is large and cover is sparse they could be hovering around the only place they feel safe.

 

[Lateral Line]

Is there a lot of traffic near your tank?

The converse is also true. If a tank is in a really quiet place, sudden "traffic" will cause the fish to dart out of site - self preservation, a natural response. If there is a lot of action aroud the tank all the time, fish get conditioned to it - loads of action but nothing bad happens - kind of thing. They loosen their innate flight response.

It is certainly true that with shy fish, the more cover you offer, the more likely you are to see them as they feel they can always run for nearby cover if threatened.