Clown loaches digging.

[RoachNloach]

So I have a family of 5 clown loaches.
I have noticed in the last 2 weeks when I have done my weekly water change. That they have been digging up my substrate.
They have almost cleared an area all the way to bottom of the tank. The gravel is about 2 inches in depth. Is this behavior normal for clowns?
They are mischievous little critters. But that's why I love them.

 

[Byron]

Yes, it is normal. All of the botine loaches like to excavate their "home," and sometimes they will do this a few times until they find the spot they prefer. They like lots of chunks of wood to excavate under, and they can be very playful chasing one another through and around these chunks of wood. Loaches are highly social, and your five have probably established their hierarch, it can occur only within days sometimes. There will be an alpha loach, often (perhaps always) a female. This is why other loaches must never be added to an existing group. Intruders are rarely if ever welcome.

 

[RoachNloach]

Thank you so much for the insight. I recently removed a cave from my tank. Which was too small for them to fit in. But since then I placed a bigger cave. Which they aren't interested in. I will build them a wooden playground/habitat for them to play and live in.
Thank you again.