Clown loaches kissing, breeding or fighting?

[jay2jay99]

I've got two clown loaches and I just noticed them today with their lips interlocked, for quite a while, I tried to get a picture but you know how it is, got the camera out and they stopped I don't know their sexes. Just managed to get this pic but you can't really see it properly. Any ideas what they're up to?

 

[Teelie]

I've seen this at my LFS in a display tank. I'm not sure exactly what they're doing either but it seems harmless. Probably just playing.

 

[The-Wolf]

just playing

there is only one reported instance of clowns breeding in an aquarium
and I believe that was with adult (10"+) fish and not planned for.

 

[Angry_Platy]

Then this is a relevant question.....if they don't breed in aquariums then where do the ones in the LFS come from? I mean, the ones my LFS has are so little they can't have been wild caught....

 

[JoLtNbolt]

Perhaps outdoors in a big man made pond? I saw something online about live bearers such as platys and sword tails being bred in large man made ponds in Florida.

 

[The-Wolf]

Then this is a relevant question.....if they don't breed in aquariums then where do the ones in the LFS come from? I mean, the ones my LFS has are so little they can't have been wild caught....

I belive they are farmed in the far east and then
shipped all over the world.
I have no proof of this, it is just logical from the
info gained off the net.

HMMM I feel a research project comming on

 

[Sky042]

They're bred in farms using IIRC Sturgeon hormones.

 

[LoachLover]

just playing

there is only one reported instance of clowns breeding in an aquarium
and I believe that was with adult (10"+) fish and not planned for.

They think the main problem with breeding Clown Loaches is they need to be at least 10 inches long to reach sexual maturity, and most people can't keep their fish alive that long since they grow really slow so it would take a number of years.