Slightly off topic but......
elephant wrote: Geoff (and anyone else):
Did simply covering the glass calm them down?
Pretty much
elephant wrote: I would have thought the noise/vibrations would still bother him. I have often wondered about this with my tanks -- they are all in high-traffic areas of the house (living room & kitchen) & there are a few fish I have to sneak up on to see at the front of the tank -- otherwise they bolt to a hiding spot or the back.
It takes a bit to think about it, but someone made a post once that made perfect sense.
A river is actually a pretty noisy place, under the water.
The force of the water moves rocks and stuff around, so they are always clunking into each other and stuff.
The Amazon is like a highway and there are many boats and things that travel up the amazon, so there is always the sounds of motors and stuff.
People catch fish when trawling etc and there is plenty of noise associated with that.
If you think about moving up towards a tank, then it would be fair to assume that if a fish was being predated on, the last thing they may see would be a shadow or dark shape moving towards them. To them, all the movement outside the tank is the same thing.
If you are dry fly fishing, you tend to stalk up to the pool where the fish are and start casting. If you just walk up to the pool you will more than likely spook the fish, it is all the same thing.
I have never seen 90% of my fish feed, even in the fish room. Unless I put in the food and then sit unmoving for a few minutes to watch them come out. More often than not they are more patient than me.
For my tanks in the living area of the house I always feed them at the same time, give or take 10 minutes.
They have learnt after a few months that this is the case so when it gets to be about that time they all come out and wait in the place where the food goes.
They seem to know they are safe at that time as the cats (feline) waiting for them don't bother them, until the cats try pawing at the glass.
elephant wrote:
Ideally I would make a devoted "fish room," but our basement is unheated & would make a lousy fish room during Northeastern winters.
Laugh all you want, but everyone in the house knows not to walk around too much during feeding time, so that everyone gets a fair, uninterrupted shot at eating : P
No laughing matter
My lights on the living area tanks go off at 7.00pm, and they get fed just before then.
You may find that they feel secure enough with just the tank lights out and the ambient light from the room doesnt worry them too much?
Miracles take a little longer. if you wish to point out any that need changed I'd be happy to change them (or indeed give you access to same).
definately my favorite want to get of all plecs
