Skittish Cichlid

[carmstrong]

Good Morning Fish Keepers
 
I have a question in regards to my Mbuna Africa Cichlid. 
 
When I purchased him a week ago (today) with 6 others, he was very skittish and would hide in the corners of the tank or around rocks. 
 
At first, I figured this was being they were placed within a new environment and would eventually become more outgoing. 
 
The remaining 5 did exactly that and are always swimming around, up and back from the glass, hiding in rocks and recently digging around in the sand.
They look very happy..  
 
However, my little blue guy seems to still be hiding, I've barely seen him eat, he almost looks like he's shaking and hides under a rock all the time. 
He breathes heavily and keeps his mouth partially open at all times (no one else in the tank is displaying this behaviour)
Is it possible he has something in his mouth? I tried to look with a flashlight this morning but he wouldn't sit still long enough to get a good look.. I couldn't see anything.
 
Can anyone explain this?
 
I have been watching him for the last 3 days and seeing if he's being bothered by any other fish, he's not.. they would occasionally chase him out of his hiding spot as if to say "come and play" but its not frequent and once they leave, he's right back to hiding. 
 
Everyone is still very juvenile so there hasn't been any territory really established yet and he is the second smallest in the tank.
(The smallest is a brave one and is right up there with the rest)
 
I'm going to try and get some video footage tonight so that you can see how he's acting
 
Any help would be appreciated. 
 
Thanks in advance!

 

[Vethian]

I have a parrot cichlid with the same problem.  He is now starting to come out, but still hides from me.  If I turn the light off, he comes out and swims around.  

 

[carmstrong]

I wondered that too.. would watch him with the lights out and still stayed under the rock.. 
 
Maybe thats just the way he is?
 
Is that gonna cause problems once they get older?

 

[Vethian]

I would speculate that if he isnt being picked on, he will start to come out in time.

 

[Ace_Of_Fades]

I'm no expert but when my convict cichlid kept hiding from me every time I walked by, or when I turned the lights off, barely eating almost exactly what you're explaining. I rearranged his tank and gave him more hiding spots, which must have boosted his confidence or something because now he's swims everywhere, even when I walk by. Give it a try.

 

[CSnyder00]

Yes. With Africans, more hiding spots is VERY HIGHLY recommended. It's hard to get enough sometimes. Keep the lights on, just add some places were light can't get to. Keep changing up the scenery until everyone seems happy.

 

[carmstrong]

Unfortunately the little guy passed today, 
 
I think he starved to death as I hadn't seen him eat in the 10 days that he was in my possession. 
It looked like there was something wrong with his mouth preventing him from eating or he was sick enough that he didn't want to eat. 
 
Thankfully everyone else in the tank is healthy and happy. 
 
Thanks everyone for for all your advice, hopefully the rest live happy lives.