I have six lovely bleeding heart tetras in a large 380L tank which is planted about as heavily as I'm able. The mystery here is that these fish which were always shy, at least became quite active at feeding time zipping here and there snapping up flakes or whatever.
Since then some things have changed, water quality has improved and become more like their natural home. PH around 7, down from 8 and water hardness down to soft from hard. Also the water is tinted due to peat filtration and the plants have grown up too. So there's loads of cover and less light getting through than before, and yet they're markedly more reclusive and basically sit towards the back of the tank at the base of the large amazon swords resting near the bottom in the same position in a group.
It's not my imagination I'm sure. I'm also struggling to see why it might be the case when if anything I would have thought they'd become happier. In the same time their rummy nose tetra tank mates have definately become happier moving up the water colour to zip in and out of the plants.
Any ideas on this would be gratefully received.
Since then some things have changed, water quality has improved and become more like their natural home. PH around 7, down from 8 and water hardness down to soft from hard. Also the water is tinted due to peat filtration and the plants have grown up too. So there's loads of cover and less light getting through than before, and yet they're markedly more reclusive and basically sit towards the back of the tank at the base of the large amazon swords resting near the bottom in the same position in a group.
It's not my imagination I'm sure. I'm also struggling to see why it might be the case when if anything I would have thought they'd become happier. In the same time their rummy nose tetra tank mates have definately become happier moving up the water colour to zip in and out of the plants.
Any ideas on this would be gratefully received.
