Man Clown Loaches Are Masters At Hiding Lol

[Kevstir]

back at the end of november i noticed that i could only find 1 clown loach out of 3, i pulled ever bit of bog wood and rock out of the tank so all that was left was sand and a few plants, me and jan searched for ages but couldnt find the other 2.

A few days before i had left the front flap open all night by mistake, due to this, i thought that they had jumped and that 1 of the dogs had ate them as we couldnt find any body's, or smell them lol

Before when all 3 were present they used to click like mad every night before i went to bed when i tossed in an algae wafer for the bristlenose, i could here them while in bed so i always knew what they were up to, as usual every night a tossed an algae wafer in but no clicking.

well thursday night i put the algae wafer in 10 mins before i left for bed, as i checked on the tank before i left the ilving room to my surprise there was 3 clowns, since then the clicking has started again every night, how weird is that lol, what even weirder is that in 6 weeks i have cleaned the tank out 6 times and only seen 1 clowny , man these fish can hide, even now when i have a look during the day i can only see 1..

can they bury in the sand to hide? as that's the only place they could possible have been when i first noticed they were gone.

and please don't turn this thread into a thread about 3 clowns being to much for my tank, eventually this will be true and i will deal with it when the time comes ether by upgrading the tank (which i want to do anyway , who doesn't lol) or finding a suitable home.

Kev

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Kevstir

Since you don't seem to be getting any response in Tropical Chat, I'm going to move it to Cyprinids, Characins and Atherinids. My posting will move it to the top of the list and give it another chance.

 

[CKlown]

I found the same thing. They're a very shy fish! I had one once in a 10G tank and rarely saw it.

 

[Bastables]

Two factors at play here. If the clown alpha is a calm and shy one the others will follow it's lead. Also and this is the issue that faces you, they're very gregarious and will gain confidence and courage the more of them there are. The rule of thumb from loaches on line is 6 bare minimum to have them interacting socially and carrying out loaches behaviour.

 

[jollysue]

Yes, 6 is the rule of thumb I have heard also. I have 5x5"-6" clowns in a large 125 usg tank. I was unable to locate one in the 200 usg to move to the 125 tank with the others. I may try again soon.

Yes, I understand that they will dig down under stuff and into the substrate when they are insecure and feel threatened and also if they don't feel well. If there is sickness in the tank, they can dig down and disappear until it is well passed.