My Clown Loaches Do Not Come Out

[Ave]

I brought 7 clown loaches to my tank 3 days ago. Until then there were only 15 tiger barbs. Loaches were getting along with the barbs wery well.
Last night we changed ca 20% of water. GH and PH remained the same. In the morning I saw 6 loaches swimming, during the day they kept disappearing. Now I turned off the lights but they wouldn't come out at all any more...Is this some sort of normal loach behaviour or should I do something?

 

[lordotterby]

they like to hide in groups, if you have any hiding places in your tank they will be there.

Have you put some food in to draw them out?

 

[sophos9]

My clowns hide until the early hours of the morning or food becomes available... What size tank have you got to house 7 clowns?

 

[Jules H-T]

Still worried about the new guys, eh? Are they eating yet?

They'll settle in- it'll be about a month I reckon before they start feeling really confident. Even then, when there isn't much going on (like food) they will stay hidden a lot of the time just because that's what they like to do.

What will probably happen when they are happy and comfortable in their surroundings, is that they will start fighting to work out who is the boss. I use the word fighting quite loosely, they aren't going to hurt each other (although it does look quite aggressive). They circle each other and try to bite each other's noses. Don't panic, don't separate them, it will only last a few days and they will only be working out the pecking order of the group. Once it's all settled down it may not happen again, so sit back and enjoy just part of the character. You'll probably notice in time that the more dominant ones get bigger faster, and that the other ones follow the bigger ones around.

If you're thinking that there isn't much going on in your tank, you could add a load of yoyo or zebra loaches no problem. They tend to be more active and will fill in the gap you're noticing quite nicely. Maybe give it a few weeks to let your current stock settle in.

@ Sophos, 125G IIRC, something pretty decent sized anyway.

 

[sophos9]

@ Sophos, 125G IIRC, something pretty decent sized anyway.

Jesus

 

[leostockton2007]

wot size tank do u have ?

 

[K.J.]

She has 125 gallons.