Shy Damsel.

[Pewmichael]

Hi everyone,
I've got a damsel that has become very shy. It only comes out now to eat then hides all day. No fish Chase it nor does it have any sickness. Very unusual for this fish. Does anyone have any ideas why this may be happening.
Regards
Michael.

 

[leahfiish]

Are you sure it's not sick? Did you add anything new to teh tank lately? What size tank and what are the other fish?

 

[Max447]

My damsel is doing the same thing!

 

[Pewmichael]

Are you sure it's not sick? Did you add anything new to teh tank lately? What size tank and what are the other fish?

Haven't done anything new.
Tank is a 90 liter cube with a clown and blue tang. They've all been in there for over one year, never a issue.
He looks great, doesn't gasp for air or any other signs of bad health.

 

[eatbreakfast]

How would you describe it's hiding, completely hidden from view or just out of the light?

Is it in an area with high activity or loud noises?

How is the tang behaving?

Have you recently done major maintenance or moved things around?

What are your water's parameters?

Are there any corals or inverts or coral in the tank?

What kind of damsel?

 

[Pewmichael]

How would you describe it's hiding, completely hidden from view or just out of the light?

Is it in an area with high activity or loud noises?

How is the tang behaving?

Have you recently done major maintenance or moved things around?

What are your water's parameters?

Are there any corals or inverts or coral in the tank?

What kind of damsel?

Hi.
He's completely hiding now.
There's no noise or traffic.
The Tang is hiding now and then, just started.
No maintenance done recently.
All parameters are good. Weekly water changes.
I have a few small corals and some morphs.
The damsel is a blue Chromis.
Everything still looks great in the tank.
Regards
Michael.

 

[Pewmichael]

Are you sure it's not sick? Did you add anything new to teh tank lately? What size tank and what are the other fish?

Yes I'm sure it's not sick, it's been like this now for a few months. Nothing new has been added. He's been very happy with a blue tang and small clown. I've had them all for two years now and this happens.
Regards.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Having only 2 fish could contribute to shyness. Not seeing other fish around signifies a predator in the wild.

More frequent feedings can also get fish to be bolder.

 

[Pewmichael]

Having only 2 fish could contribute to shyness. Not seeing other fish around signifies a predator in the wild.

More frequent feedings can also get fish to be bolder.

Hi,
Actually, I have introduced a bubble coral in the middle of the tank around the time this all happened. Could that be it.
Regards.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Hi,
Actually, I have introduced a bubble coral in the middle of the tank around the time this all happened. Could that be it.
Regards.

Maybe, maybe not. Anything wet that was kept with other fish has the potential to introduce parasites or disease.

Moving things around in a tank can cause fish to be more reticent for awhile as well.