Shy Clown Loaches...

[kooter]

My clowns are REALLY shy. They will only come out when all the lights are off. Do they get more adventurous as they get "settled in" their new tank?
Should I keep the light on more so they get used to it?
I have had them for approx. 2 and a half weeks. Do they get more adventurous if there are more tank mates?
They are SOOO cool. :thm:

[Spunky]

They will come out more if there are many hiding places spread out through the tank. When there are dither fish swimming in the top area of the tank they will come out more too. One angel helps, but i am sure once there is more movement it will make them feel safer.

They are also nocturnal, so you are more apt to see them at night when you feed them.

[IceH2O]

I have 2 Clowns and they'll come out during the day some but are more likely to come out when I turn the tank lights off and keep the room light on.

When they do come out during the day my 4 yr old son can walk to the tank and they won't hide,but let me walk over and they scoot back to the cave.

I'm the one that feeds them I should get the enjoyment of watching them!

If I sneak up to the tank and just sit there they usually will come out and look for food and such.

[kooter]

My clowns have a driftwood look-a-like that they call home. They love it.
You can never see them in there during the day but...
As soon as I turn out the lights in the evening and put in some blood worms, it's like a shark frenzy. Incredible appetites these guys have. I put some feeding wafers in over night as well and catch them occasionally nibbling on them if my rubber lip isn't attached to it.
So other than the feeding frenzy I don't get to see much of them.

[chefkeith]

IME, clowns avoid bright lighting if they can. They like to have a roof over there head. Moving objects or shadows can really freak them out. In the wild, this instinct probably prevents them from getting eaten by large birds, crocs, turtles, and such.

[budrecki]

They are very shy fish. I have 5had my 5 for 18 months or so. They do come out during the day, buts its usually to play "Loach Tag".

Or to "Loach Pile" Rufus, the 14" pleco.

[kooter]

They are very shy fish. I have 5had my 5 for 18 months or so. They do come out during the day, buts its usually to play "Loach Tag".

Or to "Loach Pile" Rufus, the 14" pleco.


LOL. I love that..."Loach Pile". Tag is so true. Even when they feed, one will come out first and feed, then one other to play tag and then they try to play with my lone zebra danio in the middle of the tank. After awhile all 4 will scoot around and play, feed, harass. Fun to watch, (as soon as your eyes adjust in the dark! :D )

[jec0995]

IME, clowns avoid bright lighting if they can. They like to have a roof over there head. Moving objects or shadows can really freak them out. In the wild, this instinct probably prevents them from getting eaten by large birds, crocs, turtles, and such.


I agree here for the most part. My larger loaches (4-5 inches) were always shy and my smaller ones (3 inches) would always be out (even eat from my hand). Now that I have added many rainbowfish and gouramis, all the loaches are out during the day and swimming with the rainbows and gouramis. Its really amazing. I can walk right up to the tank and they don't care. They used to scatter quite quickly when I'd approach. :thm:

They also have multiple hiding spots in the tank now as well. I really think the combo of dither fish and hiding spots made all the difference. :D

[TipStylez]

i have 5 loaches and at first when i only had about 3 medium size plants...they were shy...untill i upgraded to a large 8count plants...there out almost all the time swimming around.

Maby you should try adding more plants so they feel more secure.

-Q

[Roan Art]

When they do come out during the day my 4 yr old son can walk to the tank and they won't hide,but let me walk over and they scoot back to the cave.

I'm the one that feeds them I should get the enjoyment of watching them!

If I sneak up to the tank and just sit there they usually will come out and look for food and such.IMO something as large as us looming over them may be perceived as "predator-like" activity and cause them to hide. My son's silver dollars do the same thing.

My clowns are out a lot so long as I have a lot of fish schooling above them, but if I walk up to the tank, they will hide and watch me. Soon as they perceive that I'm not a threat, they come out. But, if I kneel and move up to the tank in that fashion, head even with the substrate, they do not hide at all.

They don't run from my 4 year old either, but my 9 year old is much taller and they hide from her.

My kuhliis don't care. They are all over the place all the time.

Roan