Some cover and a plants will help him feel more secure. I use danios as dithers to help my shy fish move around more. They're fast enough that most fish can't catch them and if they do kill them atleast you're not out much $
With cichlids a lot of time you need to have patience when it comes to them overcoming thier shyness. My male SRD was the same exact way when I first got him. Here is the thread I had posted.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/shy-flowerhorn.681314/
It took probably close to a month for him to come out of hiding and swim everywhere. I honestly debated on trading him in to a lfs at the time because every other flowerhorn I've had was very outgoing from the beginning. I've had him for almost 3 months and am glad I kept him. After the initial month of shyness he swims everywhere in the aquarium and will actually let me pet his head. Very personable fish.
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must be too big for tank mates or tank too small .. in that case it's a waiting game - what fish did you get ?
