why do fish hide?

[cinder]

I just have a question, why do the fish hide and not really come out from under the plants? I know there is nothing wrong with them, but even when I fed them the past 2 days they wait until I walk away from the pond to come up to eat. It's like they suddenly became shy. If anyone can explain I would appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Mmathis]

If they were fine before but suddenly started hiding, I would suspect they might be hiding from a predator, real or imagined.

 

[addy1]

Mine come running even though I feed them very seldom. I do have the pond high netted, so no bird type predators to bother them. We had a bad heron problem.

 

[cinder]

Thanks I guess that makes sense. I really don't have that kind of bird problem. We just have little sparrows and finches and cardinals. I am grateful we don't have the heron problem here. I live close to the city and not of wild animals here. My fish were also like yours they would come running but the past few days they have been in hiding.

 

[sissy]

Because they look up and all they see is a big scary monster that may want to eat them

 

[cinder]

Thanks sissy! How true, LOL

 

[RobAmy]

Any cats in the area? Did you move anything that is creating a different shadow that they see like a planted pot, rock etc? I know mine follow me like dogs around the pond, but when I have my tripod out photographing the pond, they tend to hide at first.

 

[cinder]

We did have a stray cat in the area earlier this year, but I haven't seen him recently. I did remove some of the water lettuce and also some of the hyacinths. The pond was getting over run with the plants so I thinned them out a bit. But now they only stay under the ones left. I guess I'll have to watch to see if the cat has been around. Thanks for info.

 

[Jersey_Marine]

We did have a stray cat in the area earlier this year, but I haven't seen him recently. I did remove some of the water lettuce and also some of the hyacinths. The pond was getting over run with the plants so I thinned them out a bit. But now they only stay under the ones left. I guess I'll have to watch to see if the cat has been around. Thanks for info.

After i removed about 100 or more hyacinths my fish started acting the same way. They stay under the little patches i have left in the pond. I think they just got comfortable with 3/4 of the pond being covered like a security blanket and now that blanket has been removed. Its psychological I believe..

 

[Mmathis]

After i removed about 100 or more hyacinths my fish started acting the same way. They stay under the little patches i have left in the pond. I think they just got comfortable with 3/4 of the pond being covered like a security blanket and now that blanket has been removed. Its psychological I believe..

Exactly! It's instinctive -- a survival adaptation.

 

[cinder]

Thanks for your responses. I wasn't to sure but that would make sense. I also didn't know if when I had several fish die and I did a water change if it scared them. But like you jersey marine my pond has alot of water lettuce and hyacinths and I keep thinning them out but wasn't to sure of how much to get rid of. My pond has alot of sun in the afternoon and I wanted it for the shade and it also is helping to control the algae. Thanks again