Shy Clown Loaches

[mhancock]

I've recently gained two clown loaches from a friend.  She only had the two in her tank and said that they were spending most of the time hiding in the tank ornaments rather than swimming around.  I thought that the problem may have been that there were only two of them in the tank, also the bigger one (6-7 cm) looked a bit big for her 2 foot tank.
 
We moved both fish into my 4 foot tank where there are already 6 clowns, all about 4cm.  I had hoped that by putting them into a tank with a reasonable sized group of loaches, which is of course how they should be kept, that they would do much better.
 
Unfortunately although they moved around the tank initially, they have settled into a similar behaviour in my tank, with both of the new loaches spending the majority of the time in the coconut shells.  They don't even come out when I feed the fish.  Their colouration is also looking dull.
 
I'm using decent flake food which all the other loaches love.  Other fish in the tank include a couple of plecs and some angels.  It's well filtered (external) and had lots of hiding places with coconut shells, bogwood, and plants.  Temperature is about 27 oC.
 
Any ideas?
 
Thanks,
 
 
 
Mark
 
PS I am aware that with 8 loaches in a 4 foot tank, in the future I will need a bigger tank!
 
 

 

[ShinySideUp]

"I am aware that with 8 loaches in a 4 foot tank, in the future I will need a bigger tank!"
 
Indeed, but enough of that...
 
...How recently did you get the fish? It may take some time before the existing group will encompass the newcomers and vice versa but they are roughly the same size and should get together soon enough. Clown's prefer subdued lighting; indeed my five largest ones are rarely active during the day but as soon as the main lights go out and the 'moon' LED's come on they are rushing around begging for food. My biggest one is about 6 inches from base of tail and keeps every one else behind her in the pecking order. And it is the pecking iorder that takes time to develop, especially with younger fish, but someone will take over and all should come good. Just give it time, clean water and subdued lighting and you should be OK.

 

[mhancock]

 
 
...How recently did you get the fish? 

 
Hi there, I've only had them three days.
 
I'll keep the lights down for a bit (as I've been off work they had been on all day), and feed them late evening when it is darker.
 
Hopefully they'll settle in soon!
 
 
M

 

[Byron]

I concur with ShinySideUp.  Most likely the new additions need time to settle into a completely new environment, different water parameters, different tankmates...and of special importance, an existing shoal of the same species.  As SSU pointed out, this fish establishes a hierarchy within the group, so keep close observation on how this plays out with the newcomers.  Often the age of the fish is a factor, as the more mature the more fixed the social structure.  The comments on light are also pertinent.
 
Byron.

 

[mhancock]

Thanks Byron, after the lights being off all day they are now out and about so I'll keep them off for a few more days and get some more shade in the tank.
 
One of the new ones is definitely the biggest in the tank now so hopefully the new hierarchy will be established soon.
 
 
M

 

[mhancock]

5 days later.... the big new clown is still being incredibly shy and spending 95% of the time hiding - any other thoughts?
 
Thanks,
 
 
 
M

 

[Byron]

5 days later.... the big new clown is still being incredibly shy and spending 95% of the time hiding - any other thoughts?
 
Thanks,
 
 
 
M

 
Leave things.  This is common with loaches of all species; some individuals take weeks to settle into a new environment.  They can be seriously stressed, and need quiet time to settle.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have kept clowns, including big on3s for a number of years. When the group was first combined in one tank it took several weeks before all the fighting to establish the pecking order ended. Even after it had been established, it was tentative for a while, # 2 would challenge #1 just to make sure. But the bouts of fighting were much shorter by this time and then they finally settled down. The fighting was not limited to #1 and #2- the fish further down the chain also squabbled as well. But eventually it all worked out.
 
One of the more interesting things I witnessed in this process happened when one of the intermediate sized fish began to pick on the very smallest of the group. To my surprise, #1 would step in to prevent the little guy from any harm. It was almost like a big and little brother. After about two months everything was peaceful for the most part, Now when #1 wants the food, the rest get out of his way or else he reminds them very quickly who is boss. But every now and then fish will check to be sure things are still the same order as usual. These incidents are very short lived.
 
None of the fight resulted in the fish damaging each other. Many folks are unaware that clowns carry switchblades called sub-ocular spines. These things are sharp and nasty. You only see them out when things get really serious and I never saw them out during the establishment of the pecking order. You can see a picture of a big clown with his "switchblade" out here http/www.loaches.com/species-index/clown-loach-chromobotia-macracanthus Scroll down about halfway and you will see what I am talking about.

 

[ShinySideUp]

When I moved my Clowns into their present tank I found that I had blood on one of my fingers and wondered at the time if I had been got by one of the spines, I almost certainly had; they are much more friendly now and feed from my hand.
 
I do occasionally see a fracas but as TTA says, they are very short and usually end up with one or the other becoming 'greyed-out' for a time.

 

[mhancock]

Hi,
 
After leaving the lights off a lot, the large clown is just starting to spend more time in the tank with the others.
 
Thanks for the advice,
 
 
M