Is This Normal For Clown Loach?

[stevyba]

I've recently added a couple of clown loach to my tank and they seem to be fine 90% of the time.

However one of them seems to like playing dead... it tends to burrow right under a rock and lay there (usually on it's side) for up to a couple of hours at a time

I'm wondering if this is normal behaviour or if I have a sick fish... when it comes out it's as lively as ever

Steve

 

[WILDER]

Sounds normal to me clowns do play dead and lay onto there sides.
Have you checked your water stats.

 

[stevyba]

Not checked them for a week or so.. will do them today as it's a new ish tank

 

[WILDER]

Has the tank cycled then.
How many gallons is the tank.
How many fish and which type.

 

[stevyba]

It's a 50 gal tank which i've upgraded to from a 20 gal.

I used the water from my old tank and the filter from there alongside a larger new filter so I figured it was just like doing a 60% water change
Also used my existing rocks and plants.

Monitored the water for a couple of weeks and appart from a slight rise in nitrate everything was fine (changed about 20% of water after 3 days to bring it back down)

Original fish were

3 neon tetras
4 zebra danio's
2 catfish
and 2 pleco's which had outgrown my old tank... hence the upgrade

New fish added were

2 clown loach
3 silver sharks
and 2 albino frogs

If I'd looked on here first i would have stayed clear of the frogs because of their slow feeding and having other bottom feeders in there but the guy in the shop assured me they'd be fine

 

[WILDER]

Nitrates are not harmful to fish but nitrites are.
Nitrates only become harmful when above 100.
What your tap nitrate reading.

 

[stevyba]

I'll go and do the tests now and report back

 

[stevyba]

Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 5
Ammonia 0.25
PH 7.8

Tap Nitrate 5


Judging by the nitrite, may be time for another water change?

 

[WILDER]

Your tanks still cycling.
Yes water change and increase aeration in the tank.
The clown loaches and silver sharks will need a bigger tank as they get bigger,usually 90 gallons.

 

[stevyba]

Thanks for the help

I'll turn up the air pump a little.. it's onto a 12" airstone running quite low at the moment and do a water change

At the moment the clowns are only about 2" and the sharks only about 2 1/2" but I'm prepared to get a larger tank if and when it's needed

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Good luck.

 

[WILDER]

A good clown loach article for you.
http/www.bollmoraakvarieklubb.org/artikl...own%20loach.htm

 

[stevyba]

Thanks for that.... interesting reading

 

[fergalthefish]

yes it is perfectly normal for clown loaches to lie on their side. it freaked me out too when i first saw it but this is what they do! you will enjoy them i hope as they are, in my opinion, one of the more playful fish. they do need to live in groups of about 3 or more though or they will be unhappy. enjoy your loaches!!!

 

[stevyba]

I'll wait till my tank settles down a bit more and then add another one or two.... don't want my fish to be unhappy