clown loach disapearance

[Cavafish]

I've had two clown loaches for about a week now. They are quite young, about 2" long, but from day 3 onwards only one is ever seen at a time. Apart from pulling the tank decor apart looking for him, I'm not too sure whether to assume that he is hiding somewhere or whether to search out the (by now) rotting body. I am sure I have read somewhere on here that they can hide but I've read so much now I'm not sure...

The other clown is out and active all the time (as they both were originally).

Any suggestions?

 

[Moe]

I have 2 tiny cloun loaches also. It took them about a month to come out all the time. I used to see one much more than the other. I'd give it some time. They are really good at hiding. After about 3 weeks I was going to bring them back to LFS. I don't want any fish I don't get to see. The LFS dude convinced me to wait. I'm so glad I did. Loaches are so much fun. The pair are always out now swimming all over the tank. They come to the surface all the time. Love my loaches.

 

[Captain Canuck]

Yup, they will do the hiding thing from time to time. Mine will be visible all the time, and then go on vacation for a week.
If you are worried about the one you haven't seen, trying watching the tank in near darkness. I find my clowns are quite active about an hour after the lights go out, or early in the morning before they come on.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I think it's quite common for them to hide (very well) when they are first introduced into a tank. I have read of it many times and it happened to me with one of my clowns.

I wouldn't go pulling the tank apart just yet. Maybe try tempting him out with some bloodworms.

HTH

 

[Cavafish]

Thanks guys

Will persevere and not worry too much yet then. They do seem to love bloodworms and also earthworms so will try this. The bogwood is quite 'complex' so I guess he is in there somewhere.

Have also tried the watching after lights out to see my plec, little joy there as well I'm afraid!

Happy now.

 

[RobbieM]

I had that with one of mine, wait till its dark, turn a dim light on in the room, turn the tank off, sit very still and wait a while

 

[jumpman]

Patience is the key!! When moving house one of mine went missing also. and a presumed it dead, only for it to appear in a bucket full of wisteria plant that he decided to hide in when i was trying to catch them. I was searching all the bogwood for ages.....if it is intricate like you say then he is probably hiding. You would have noticed the body by now....

they are worth the wait!

jump

 

[drobbins27]

I would love some clowns but they are 11 dollars canadian over here!

 

[RobbieM]

I would love some clowns but they are 11 dollars canadian over here!

move to England then m8, my lfs does them for £8.50p a pair of about 4 inches long. You can also "mail order" them for £10 for 5

 

[greathat]

we have some in the bedroom and they dog at night... drives me barmy sometimes but quite enertainign to watch em moving all the gravel

 

[Nina7777]

Gotta love those clowns.

I have three and fortunately they are always visible, and quit active little buggers. They have caves but they never use them. My decorations aren't all that intricate though as i have to leave lots of swimming room for my sharks. They did try to hide more (behind the heater) and weren't very active when I first got them though. They were in the 30 gallon with larger gravel and never dug or searched for food in the gravel, now that they are in the 55 gallon with small gravel they are always digging and searching and playing tag with one an other.

Trust me though, they are well worth the wait as everyone else has mentioned! They are quickly becoming my favorites! (But shhhh......don't tell my bala's- who used to be my faves!)

 

[Perky]

When mine was in my smaller tank there was this rock (fake from LFS) with gaps in it to let the water go inside the rock so it would sink easier and not take up soo much space in the tank. Well one day I noticed the Clown LOach had gone missing and I took the filter appart, searching behind the tank and then removed the bogwood and the rock, the rock was out of water for about an hour and I was moving the rock alot to see if he was in any of the holes but they all seemed much too small and I thought he must have gone and got eaten or something. The next day I looked in the tank and pow (sounding like an episode of Batman and Robin), the three Clown Loach where swimming at the front of the tank. I quickly rushed over to make sure the three was there and sure enough, the Clown Loach was back. I continued to watch and the one that went missing went straight to the gap in the rock. I couldn't believe it. H ehad been out of water for an hour and was still alive. Since then Ifound out they can survive up to 12 hours out of water!