Who Gives A Fish Forums

My Discus have been hiding in the shadows of my 75-gallon tank lately. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate. Temp is steady at 84°F with a Fluval heater. They're eating fine, but they're acting sketchy. Anyone else deal with this?

Yep, mine did that when I first got them. How long have you had yours? Sometimes it's just a weird vibe they pick up. What's your lighting setup like? Bright lights can freak them out.

Discus are sensitive to changes in their environment. Have you made any recent adjustments to the tank, like new decor or tankmates? Also, what's your water change routine? Inconsistent water changes can stress them.

pacer wrote: ↑Wed Jul 02, 2025 12:28 pm Yep, mine did that when I first got them. How long have you had yours? Sometimes it's just a weird vibe they pick up. What's your lighting setup like? Bright lights can freak them out.

I agree with pacer. My guys chilled out after I dimmed the lights. Also, try adding some floating plants to cut the glare.

Check your tank's background. If it's too reflective or bright, they might feel exposed. I switched to a dark background and mine stopped hiding. Also, how many do you have? They're less skittish in groups of 6 or more.

Mine did this too! I added more driftwood and they started coming out more. Maybe they just need more hiding spots that aren't in the shadows?

It could be a dominance thing. Are any of them bullying the others? I've seen that cause hiding behavior. Also, what's your feeding schedule? Hungry fish can get territorial.

silverbob wrote: ↑Wed Jul 02, 2025 5:45 pm Check your tank's background. If it's too reflective or bright, they might feel exposed. I switched to a dark background and mine stopped hiding. Also, how many do you have? They're less skittish in groups of 6 or more.

Totally agree. Mine were hiding until I added more buddies. Now they're out all the time. How many do you have, swiftDart?

Mine hide when the room's too busy. Kids running around, loud noises, etc. Could it be something like that?

Discus are just drama queens sometimes. If everything else checks out, they might just be in a mood. Give it a few days and see if they snap out of it. Mine do this every now and then.