My Cichlids hate light???

[navajowinds]

Hello Everybody! I just recently started a new tank. It has 2 Yellow Labs and 2 Electric Blues. They have plenty of hiding places and plants. But every time I turn on the light, they hide in the decor or the plants. They stay in there for hours until I turn the light out. They are very healthy. They do not venture towards the top of the tank to eat their baby cichlid pellets. I would like to be able to turn on the light so that my family and I can enjoy their beauty. My tank is built into the wall so it is almost impossible to see them without a light. Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

 

[Thyra]

How long do you leave the light on? Maybe if you left it on for 24 or 48 hours they would become comfortable. You say "recently" - how long is that? I can take a week or longer for fish to settle in.

 

[Fuzz16]

every fish has a short period of time where they hide at first...ive had super outgoing fish, then shy ones that take awhile.

for your fish to get used to you, when you feed them stay there and watch, and theyll associate you with food. and maybe leave the lights off...your supposed to leave them off the first 24-48 hours of introducing a fish to the tank.
also, they are group fish so maybe they are nervouse. generally fish rely on others to boost their courage...if they see one go out then they will too. so maybe add a more outgoing fish? you didnt say how big the tank is either, could be an inner tank aggression issue too

 

[KcMopar]

What is the temp of your tank? Africans will be more lively at about 78ish. Sometimes colder temps keeps them from being really active. Temp may not even have anything to do with it, just another suggestion.