Julli Cory Scared Of Me

**ippielb** · 12-31-2011, 03:57 PM

I have a 25 gallon tank that has 4 bolivian rams, and 5 julli cory catfish. And the cory catfish are scared to death of me, every time i come into the room or into sight of the tank, they all scatter swimming into the glass and plants in my tank. And since they freak out, they freak out my bolivian rams as well. My Rams were never friendly as you would say, but now since i moved away and let my mom take care of them, they don't even come out to eat, and the julli cory's freak out and scare the crap out of them...

I'm at my last leg, i've spent the majority of the last 4 days in that room to try and get them to be more friendly, i've tried treating all the fish with bloodworms, and they STILL are exactly the same, and freak out whenever they see me.

What can i do?

**Northernguy** · 12-31-2011, 04:08 PM

Keep trying! It sounds like you are doing stuff right.It does take time,could be a few weeks.Avoid fast movement and loud noises.It may help.
I find cichlids are more people friendly then smaller fish.

**ippielb** · 12-31-2011, 04:22 PM

The thing i don't like is that if i tip toe around the tank, then they're going to get accustomed to it, and i don't want to have to tip toe around the room every time i want to do something. I want them to be use to how much of a klutz i am when i walk around my room.

Honestly, everything that i've done, hasn't even made ANY effect on their temperament. If anything they're worse then they were before. None of the fish in the tank even go after the blood worms, they just float around and they watch it go by right infront of their faces.

**Waterfroggy** · 12-31-2011, 06:09 PM

I wonder what would happen if you put a TV (muted) near the tank, it seems a bit harsh, but if there was always movement for a while, they might get used to it faster.

I used to do that when taming feral kittens so when I was away they had human exposure.

**ippielb** · 12-31-2011, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Waterfroggy

I wonder what would happen if you put a TV (muted) near the tank, it seems a bit harsh, but if there was always movement for a while, they might get used to it faster.

I used to do that when taming feral kittens so when I was away they had human exposure.

That's what i was thinking of doing, but i was afraid the light changes from the tv shows would flash and scare the fish even more.

**Waterfroggy** · 12-31-2011, 06:42 PM

maybe start it out across the room and slowly move it closer!?

**Northernguy** · 12-31-2011, 07:24 PM

Fish are not that fragile.Just give them some time.

**Fishkeeper** · 01-02-2012, 08:56 PM

My hillstream loach used to do that. Try doing something quiet across the room right after you put the food in. Sitting next to the tank reading and putting food in occasionally helps too.

**ippielb** · 01-03-2012, 08:46 PM

Well, i sit right beside the tank and play xbox, so i don't know what else to do, i feed them blood worms every other day, but they aren't even eating it, i dont know what else to do, i spend 2-5 hours a day beside the tank, around the tank either playing xbox, watching tv, just watching the tank... I don't know what else to do. They HATE the light, when i turn it on they all just hide and stay hiding all day.

**ippielb** · 01-13-2012, 05:04 AM

I'm at my wits end, i'm basically thinking about giving them away now. I can't deal with having them freak out anymore. My bolivian rams are calm and don't freak out, UNTIL the julli's go crazy. There's nothing more i can do. I spend the past 2 weeks hanging out in that room more then i'd ever have before.