Clown Loach Breeding? Maybe?

[Haydn24]

Hey everyone.

I have a 250L freshwater tank with plenty of driftwood, caves, plants etc. I've had 2 clown loaches in there for over 2.5 years now and they have always gotten along very well. When i established the tank I put in a large cone shell (empty) for decoration. The loaches quickly used this as a haven to sleep in etc.

Anyway, just in the last week one of the clown loches has stayed in the shell for over 2 days, only coming out once (that I've seen) where it seemed very close with the other loach (being by its side/ontop of it etc). Then it went back into the shell. It is alive as it is constatly moving its tail etc. The other loach is being quite aggressive and territorial. Could anyone know whats going on here? are they breeding (which i doubt as its extremely rare) or is it scarred or what? I have no idea :(.

Any help/suggestions would be great. Thankyou :)

[jpappy789]

Quite possibly they need more company...CLs do much better in larger groups. You'd need to upgrade the tank even sooner though to accommodate their potential size.

[fishorama]

Be careful! I've read of loaches getting stuck in shells & other tight spots. Breeding is extremely unlikely.

[toddnbecka]

Sounds more like one fish trying to escape the other, domiinant loach. They are social fish, and really need to be kept in groups so that one doesn't get all the abuse from the alpha fish.
As for breeding, they're egg scatterers, not cave spawners, and don't guard or care for their brood. Eggs are tiny and actually absorb water after being released. Thousands are produced, but in the few known cases of aquarium spawning no fry were ever raised.

[Haydn24]

Thanks guys. I've never had this problem though... They have been fine with eachother for 2 years now. But the other one isnt being aggressive towards the other so i dunno. Only to other fish. And when they interact they seem close so... *hmph* lol. Thanks anyways :)

[Haydn24]

And he isnt stuck, lol.

[fishorama]

^^not yet

[NYCguppydude]

Rearrange ALL the decorations and plants so they "feel and think" they are in a new environment! That might curve the aggressors actions for quite a bit of time! It just might help!

[KarlTh]

In the cases where they've bred, the loaches have been around 12-14" long. How big are yours?

[DLV082]

It is very unlikely that a loach will grow to at length in a 250l tank. They needs more friends and larger tank. IMHO. I have 6 in a 180g and my largest loach is 8 1/2".