Clown Loach Lying On It's Side....

[andyj]

Hi guys,

I've noticed recently that both of my Clown Loaches, have taken residence in one of the breeding tubes I've put in the tank for my Plecs... no probs in this....

But... I've seen them recently in the tube, lying on their side. It almost looks like they're dead, but when you looks closely you can see the gills moving etc, and they seem to be eating ok and look healthy.

Just wondered if this was normal behaviour......

Cheers,

Andy

 

[Phantom Thief]

Yes, i believe it is normal behavior. You can ask Arashi, i think i remember seeing pics of hers lying on the side and playing dead

P.T.

 

[rvm]

It's perfectly normal. Mine have been known to lie on their backs as well!!! I swear they do it on purpose to scare me!!!

 

[millym]

hi
yes as said perfectly normal loach behaviour, our 2 yoyo loaches spend all day loafing around on their sides ( & sometimes even completely upside down). but when we first got ours we did panic a bit when we first saw them doing this as we thought they were ill or dead, we'd poke around them with an algae scraper only to have a very p...d off loach swim away looking annoyed that we'd disturbed its kip!

 

[andyj]

They do look rather funny when they're 'playing-dead' like that !!!

The annoying thing is that they taken residence in the tube which faces the front of the tank.... meaning that my BN plecs have to use the other one, which I can't see into.... think a bit of aquascaping is required so that I can see into both tubes

 

[rvm]

I just found this pic of one of mine lying on it's back!!! Just hought you might like it!!

 

[Joviella]

@ rvm's pic. Clown loaches do love to scare us all don't they.

 

[LoachLover]

Yes it's very normal.

I think clown loaches like to mess with our minds and scare us half to death

 

[CathyG]

LMAO! Great pic, rvm! One of mine likes to lie on his back under a slate cave! He used to hide head down in the turret of a castle ornament too. I took the castle out, I don't like it, but it was my hubby's choice and he wants it back. I am sure the clowns would love him for that!

Another of mine likes to lie on his side, but only in the company of another loach. It amuses me no end to observe him nuzzle upto his clown friend and roll over, only to get back up to chase the swimming friend and roll over again when the friend stops swimming

To be sure, they would only convince me they were ill if they started floating

 

[LoachLover]

my clown loach likes to lay under some broad leafed plants that grow close to the ground.

 

[millym]

love that pic!!!! our yoyos often lie on some small plants we have..........they obviously like some comfort where poss when loafing

 

[LoachLover]

love that pic!!!! our yoyos often lie on some small plants we have..........they obviously like some comfort where poss when loafing

Really? My yoyo loaches don't do it, just my clown loaches.