How to make my red dovii feel more comfortable?

[anzo1993]

Yeah I guess you just have to let him get used to your presence then and take it one day at a time, but since it’s been a couple months and nothing has really changed then maybe he’s just a shy guy. Who knows though, he might start gaining attitude and confidence when he surpasses the 15 inch mark.

I’m sure it’s just a time thing , my last dovii only started to get active and not shy around 14 inches and I had him from 1 inch lol there honestly big babies I wish they had more the personality of a Jaguar cichlid

 

[Cichlids-r-beasts]

I’m sure it’s just a time thing , my last dovii only started to get active and not shy around 14 inches and I had him from 1 inch lol there honestly big babies I wish they had more the personality of a Jaguar cichlid

Yeah from all the stuff I’ve seen, I think they’re more “fish aggressive” than “human aggressive” at these sizes. Once they start getting into the 14-18 inch range then their true glass banging personality comes out I guess. It doesn’t help that they get so large so it takes a while for them to mature and lose that shyness, as compared to a Jag or an Amph.

 

[anzo1993]

Yeah from all the stuff I’ve seen, I think they’re more “fish aggressive” than “human aggressive” at these sizes. Once they start getting into the 14-18 inch range then their true glass banging personality comes out I guess. It doesn’t help that they get so large so it takes a while for them to mature and lose that shyness, as compared to a Jag or an Amph.

Yeah exactly just cause they take longer to mature maybe

 

[Cichlids-r-beasts]

How is he doing?

 

[anzo1993]

How is he doing?

So far so good still very shy but comes up for food. Mainly hides in his favorite flowerpot

 

[anzo1993]

Just an update, he’s much more confident these days comes right out to see me sometimes while I’m in the room , not a glass banger yet but hopefully with time lol i feel bad I can’t upgrade him to a bigger tank yet tho he’s looking quite large for the 120 gallon

 

[troublesum]

That is a good looking red dovii from my experience dovii from 1in to about 12-14in are scaredy cats always hiding then after about 2 years or that 14in mark then they become the a-hole fish

 

[anzo1993]

That is a good looking red dovii from my experience dovii from 1in to about 12-14in are scaredy cats always hiding then after about 2 years or that 14in mark then they become the a-hole fish

Really hoping that’s the case with him

 

[newworld]

Really depends on the fish…I've had them at 4” swimming all over and fish over 12” that were skittish, adding other fish or hiding spots can also help

 

[Gourami Swami]

Very nice fish! One tip, I find that plants (usually fake ones for ca cichlids) in the upper reaches of the tank really go a long way to making most fish feel secure. Dovii especially, the main predator are birds, so especially when not fully grown, they don't like open spaces much.