Auratus
Why am I browsing a fish forum at 2am?
How common is it for clown loaches to have a pattern besides stripes? I saw some at Wal-Mart and they had funny black squiggles, almost like puzzle pieces. They were very cute 
Clown Loach patterns
- Thread starter Auratus
- Start date
David
Neptune, god of the Sea
One of mine has a stripe that doesn't extend all the way down, and forms a black dot at the bottom. I chose him especially for this reason, I think it looks cool. Also I have seen pics of older clown loaches that have their black stripes lined with white (these are very mature and huge at more than 20 years old and over 20 inches as well).
CathyG
Fishaholic
I can't recall the site I read it on, but it appears that there at least five different marking patterns. I have two "side spots" for instance, and one regular 
I agree with LoachMan. These faulty colourations are normally a result of over intensive breeding, often an indication of weak stock. There was a picture of one in MAP some months ago.
Aberrant Clown Loach Markings.
Aberrant Clown Loach Markings.
CathyG
Fishaholic
Lateral Line, that was the page I had read I hadn't realised there were different types until I stumbled across that page, the possibility hadn''t even occured to me, despite having two "side spots" (fish E on that page, though one of my loach has a spot on one side only) My third loach is like picture F. I didn't buy these fish for their different markings, I bought them because I love clown loach I would have taken whichever the LFS guy caught with the least amount of chasing!
I don't know if they *are* weak stock, let's hope not *touches wood* What I have noticed though, and I had put it down to something else, the side spots are much more retiring than any clown loach in my experience. My third happily swims all over the tank, whereas the side spots will dive for cover if anyone goes near (until lights out). Even then, I can see the largest one parole the front of the tank, looking directly out into the room, before he settles to feed. Quite amusing to watch him do this lol!
When I bought the two side spots, they were in a tank with only other clown loach (and no hiding places) I thought their timidness was down to this, and the fact I only had the pair, so I later bought the third (from a different place). This one was smaller than the first two, and I chose him from a tank that he shared with gourami (he was even trying to feed from the surface like the others lol!) He was much more outgoing, and gradually one of the side spots has started to get a little braver and follow him around. I have had them for about 6 months or so now. I am planning a 540 litre in the next two or three months, I hope to get another two loach and see how an increase in numbers helps their confidence
Also, going by his descriptions on colour variations...my side spots are from Borneo (black pelvic fin, colours not quite as vibrant) My third loach is from Sumatra (red pelvic fin, very distinctive colouring).
Maybe this difference in behaviour is irregardless of markings/breeding, and more to do with the unpredictable nature of this fish, and their previous experiences before I got them. *shrug* Beautiful fish though!
I hadn't realised there were different types until I stumbled across that page, the possibility hadn''t even occured to me, despite having two "side spots" (fish E on that page, though one of my loach has a spot on one side only) My third loach is like picture F. I didn't buy these fish for their different markings, I bought them because I love clown loach I would have taken whichever the LFS guy caught with the least amount of chasing!I don't know if they *are* weak stock, let's hope not *touches wood* What I have noticed though, and I had put it down to something else, the side spots are much more retiring than any clown loach in my experience. My third happily swims all over the tank, whereas the side spots will dive for cover if anyone goes near (until lights out). Even then, I can see the largest one parole the front of the tank, looking directly out into the room, before he settles to feed. Quite amusing to watch him do this lol!
When I bought the two side spots, they were in a tank with only other clown loach (and no hiding places) I thought their timidness was down to this, and the fact I only had the pair, so I later bought the third (from a different place). This one was smaller than the first two, and I chose him from a tank that he shared with gourami (he was even trying to feed from the surface like the others lol!) He was much more outgoing, and gradually one of the side spots has started to get a little braver and follow him around. I have had them for about 6 months or so now. I am planning a 540 litre in the next two or three months, I hope to get another two loach and see how an increase in numbers helps their confidence
Also, going by his descriptions on colour variations...my side spots are from Borneo (black pelvic fin, colours not quite as vibrant) My third loach is from Sumatra (red pelvic fin, very distinctive colouring).
Maybe this difference in behaviour is irregardless of markings/breeding, and more to do with the unpredictable nature of this fish, and their previous experiences before I got them. *shrug* Beautiful fish though!
It may well be that it is regional variation. I am not convinced.
When I first had Clowns 40 years ago, they were all wild caught and you never saw these grossly deviant markings, small regional variations, okay, but spots, half stripes, jigsaws? No.
Once they discovered ways to make them breed, these oddballs started appearing, and now a lot of farmed fish are on the market, these quirks are becoming increasingly common.
The same thing happened with a lot of species. Tiger Barbs should not have dark scales outside of the stripes. Mass produced cheap specimens often have several. Further more, certain breeders kept the most marked discrepent fish and in bred them to make more and more dark scales. The result was the very dark TB's we often see today. They are very inbred, and if you spawn them, the number of deformed and crippled fry is huge relative to good quality non-marked specimens.
The "cute" markings could be being selected for, which will lead to the same inbreeding and genetic weakening.
When I first had Clowns 40 years ago, they were all wild caught and you never saw these grossly deviant markings, small regional variations, okay, but spots, half stripes, jigsaws? No.
Once they discovered ways to make them breed, these oddballs started appearing, and now a lot of farmed fish are on the market, these quirks are becoming increasingly common.
The same thing happened with a lot of species. Tiger Barbs should not have dark scales outside of the stripes. Mass produced cheap specimens often have several. Further more, certain breeders kept the most marked discrepent fish and in bred them to make more and more dark scales. The result was the very dark TB's we often see today. They are very inbred, and if you spawn them, the number of deformed and crippled fry is huge relative to good quality non-marked specimens.
The "cute" markings could be being selected for, which will lead to the same inbreeding and genetic weakening.
CathyG
Fishaholic
Hmmm...you have me thinking now.
At least I have decided that my next two will come from a community tank (like my third) that has hiding places...I don't really care what their markings are, but am now wondering whether it is worth shopping around to make sure they do not have these (potentially inbred) markings? Just thinking aloud really. I guess that unless they are proven to be weak stock, or cruelly designed (such as painted fish) just my shopping around is not going to influence the trade
BTW, Lateral Line, i like your sig! i am a PF fan too
At least I have decided that my next two will come from a community tank (like my third) that has hiding places...I don't really care what their markings are, but am now wondering whether it is worth shopping around to make sure they do not have these (potentially inbred) markings? Just thinking aloud really. I guess that unless they are proven to be weak stock, or cruelly designed (such as painted fish) just my shopping around is not going to influence the trade
BTW, Lateral Line, i like your sig! i am a PF fan too
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