Fish are scared of me

Tristan · Mar 12, 2017

I have a pinkbar goby, firefish, Clownfish, and 2 chromis. I've had them since October and they are still scared of me whenever I go up to the tank to feed. When I was into FW before, my fish always followed my hand when I went up to feed. Is this normal behavior or something else?

eatbreakfast · Mar 12, 2017

It's normal for the firefish, but everyone else in the tank should be pretty eager to see you.

Is it in area of a lot of activity or loud noises? This can keep them skittish.

Tristan · Mar 12, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
It's normal for the firefish, but everyone else in the tank should be pretty eager to see you.

Is it in area of a lot of activity or loud noises? This can keep them skittish.

No not really. Most of the day no one is at the house

Frop · Mar 12, 2017

I'd feed my shrimp by hand that way he has no choice but to go to me ;p the other fish don't seem to care good or bad. I know my freshwater oscar totally goes up to the glass and points hit nose at the surface for me to feed him.

eatbreakfast · Mar 12, 2017

How often do you feed? What do you feed?

sc50964 · Mar 12, 2017

Human are being recognized as predators. In the animal world, predatory species have eyes on the same side. Fish probably recognize that. Therefore, I suggest to approach your fish tank side ways and look at them from the side as well.

Tristan · Mar 12, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
How often do you feed? What do you feed?

I feed once a day. I switch it up between rod's, frozen mysis, frozen krill, and pellets

Tristan · Mar 12, 2017

Frop said:
I'd feed my shrimp by hand that way he has no choice but to go to me ;p the other fish don't seem to care good or bad. I know my freshwater oscar totally goes up to the glass and points hit nose at the surface for me to feed him.

Whenever I'm doing some maintenance in the tank, my peppermints will usually clean under my nails while I'm working

eatbreakfast · Mar 12, 2017

Tristan said:
I feed once a day. I switch it up between rod's, frozen mysis, frozen krill, and pellets

Try feeding more frequently. The more you feed the more it is reinforced that seeing you is a good thing.

Swoody · Mar 12, 2017

My fish are very eager to see me come feeding time and they all gather up front and center for rollcall, but whenever I have my hands in the tank for cleaning etc... you wouldn't even know that I have a Whitetail bristle tooth Tang or a Yellow Tang they are so well hidden .... my Bellus Angel and my clown fish are not as skittish, they will swim right past my hands but the big guys, they are chickens!!

Daniel@R2R · Mar 13, 2017

I have a diamond goby like this. He bolts anytime I get near the tank. My wrasses all love me. LOL I think it's because my diamond goby jumped during acclimation and I am the one that picked him up off the floor and dumped him back in the tank...so I think he blames me for the whole ordeal and is holding a grudge. LOL

Lowstorm · Mar 14, 2017

My fish were like that. I fed them with my fingers trailing in the tank. soon enough they were begging whenever I'm near the tank. Which is cool for kids and adults not coral crazy. But trying to show off the growth of a coral....

mkj · Mar 14, 2017

When you feed, stand close to the tank, so the fish associate feeding with you.

Betty1964 · Mar 14, 2017

My fish did this until I spent a few weeks just with the room lights off but the tank lights on. They seemed less frightened when they can see me in lower lighting. Now they have gotten used to me.