Clown Loaches - Strange Behaviour?

[jungleistmassiv]

Hi guys and girls

A couple of weeks ago i bought 5 clown loaches, which are now about an inch and a bit long. Towards the end of last week, i noticed one was missing. I searched everywhere for it and couldn't find it, and I just presumed that he had died, and another fish had eaten him.

Anyway, yesterday, i switched my powerhead on, something which i havent done for a while, and it spat the clown loach out! He wasstill alive, and after a couple of hours of sitting in the corner, he was back to normal, swimming around with the others.

Three times yesterday, one of the clown loaches (unsure if it was the same one or not), keeps swimming behind the bracket for the powerhead, wedging himself in, so i have to remove it and let him out. So before i went to bed yesterday, i removed the powerhead from the tank, so he couldnt hurt himself.

Now today, I am down to 4 clown loaches. I have searched everywhere for the missing one, but can't find him!

Is this normal behaviour for clown loaches? Seems really strange that they will swim into places almost purposefully to get themselves stuck?

Well i'm off to search the tank again....

Thanks all

Rich

 

[loachman]

Hi guys and girls

A couple of weeks ago i bought 5 clown loaches, which are now about an inch and a bit long. Towards the end of last week, i noticed one was missing. I searched everywhere for it and couldn't find it, and I just presumed that he had died, and another fish had eaten him.

Anyway, yesterday, i switched my powerhead on, something which i havent done for a while, and it spat the clown loach out! He wasstill alive, and after a couple of hours of sitting in the corner, he was back to normal, swimming around with the others.

Three times yesterday, one of the clown loaches (unsure if it was the same one or not), keeps swimming behind the bracket for the powerhead, wedging himself in, so i have to remove it and let him out. So before i went to bed yesterday, i removed the powerhead from the tank, so he couldnt hurt himself.

Now today, I am down to 4 clown loaches. I have searched everywhere for the missing one, but can't find him!

Is this normal behaviour for clown loaches? Seems really strange that they will swim into places almost purposefully to get themselves stuck?

Well i'm off to search the tank again....

Thanks all

Rich

It is pretty normal. Loaches are very good at getting into small spaces and hiding out in a tank. They'll be fine. It is very rare that one will get himself truly stuck.

 

[wendywc]

When it comes to loaches, there is no such thing as strange behaviour; it's all normal. Unless you see remains, he's in there. He might be buried in the substrate or nestled against/inside/underneath an ornament or piece of wood.

 

[Gazpug]

When it comes to loaches, there is no such thing as strange behaviour; it's all normal. Unless you see remains, he's in there. He might be buried in the substrate or nestled against/inside/underneath an ornament or piece of wood.

I have 4 clowns in my 300 ltr. I have noticed they do like to lean against items in the tank and swim into small places. They can be quite a shy fish. I was assuming that this was just a security thing. I doesnt sound bad at all.

Regards

Gaz

 

[jarcher1390]

clown loaches will cram them selves in anywhere and any how they can. i thought i lost 2 for a whole year and they only recently come back out so just be patient.
Jonny

 

[ox5477]

to reinforce what everyone has said, loaches are very inquisitive and at the same time very shy fish. They will search every little nook and cranny they can in the tank looking for food or just trying to hide. My khuli's find the little spaces under some rock work and even a little crack in my bogwood where two of them make their home