View Full Version : almost got the spike from the loach!
kooter
02-02-2008, 10:58 AM
:eek: I went to feed my fish this morning and my clown loaches were a little too excited, .......my little guy jump out of the tank (first time this happened). So, what do I do?! I instinctively go to grab him! wow, those spines are something else. Luckily they missed me. I totally forgot that these cute little clowns had those spines! whew........
fishorama
02-02-2008, 11:19 AM
Like a cat's claw on big loaches. Lucky you were there to save him.
But I'm more worried about my scribble plec, he doesn't always think he needs to move when I clean his cave. He does some vigorous sideways slashing for fights & the pectoral spines don't retract like loaches suborbital spines.
kooter
02-02-2008, 11:42 AM
Like a cat's claw on big loaches. Lucky you were there to save him.
But I'm more worried about my scribble plec, he doesn't always think he needs to move when I clean his cave. He does some vigorous sideways slashing for fights & the pectoral spines don't retract like loaches suborbital spines.
just be careful, those spines are mighty sharp and very strong for their size.
He's probably protecting his territory as well.
I handfeed all my loaches. Though they appear easy to grab, I don't try to. They may come to my hand but they never open their suboccular spines.:)
JamieB
02-02-2008, 7:00 PM
Thanks for the info on plecs and loaches I had both for 2 months and did not even know about those suborbital spines .
lovemybarbs
02-02-2008, 7:05 PM
Wow, news to me.
DarrylR
02-02-2008, 10:26 PM
Even those corycats got some nasty barb as well.
kooter
02-04-2008, 12:16 AM
Even those corycats got some nasty barb as well.
yeh, I had to get rid of a cory carcass once and man was it sharp and hard!
I read about clown loaches orbital spines but it never occurred to me that MINE would have them! :eek: What an eerie, shocking sight to see them for real......they were way bigger than I thought they would be.
fishorama
02-04-2008, 12:55 PM
I've kept loaches for many years & have only seen the spines once. It wasn't fighting or even by other fish, more like just a stretch.
Squawkbert
02-04-2008, 1:40 PM
YT video of loach spine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o4wUp_lZn4)
yeh, I had to get rid of a cory carcass once and man was it sharp and hard!
I read about clown loaches orbital spines but it never occurred to me that MINE would have them! :eek: What an eerie, shocking sight to see them for real......they were way bigger than I thought they would be.
The truth is not many people know such spines even exist until they handle the fish while attempting to transport them to either plastic bag or the tank.
lovemybarbs
02-04-2008, 5:26 PM
:eek3: Now I know what to look for. Thanks for posting that!
JamieB
02-04-2008, 5:36 PM
My clown loaches are spineless WHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I do not se them sub occula/orbital suckers anywhere!
My clown loaches are spineless WHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I do not se them sub occula/orbital suckers anywhere!
Under each eye but you will not see them until the loaches feel threatened enough to send them out for defense.
JamieB
02-04-2008, 5:43 PM
Get out really under the eye? How James bondish I like that defense mechanism. I read several articles do not remember ever reading about those. How long do they stay out? No wonder my plecos are always running from the clowns at feeding time!
Get out really under the eye? How James bondish I like that defense mechanism. I read several articles do not remember ever reading about those. How long do they stay out? No wonder my plecos are always running from the clowns at feeding time!
Answer is yes. Well, as I mentioned earlier, not many know such spines exist.