I have a 8" clown loach (named Norman) which I believe is carrying eggs at the moment. Because in the last month or so without being feed any differently it has become extremely fat, and also two of the other larger loaches keep flanking it and won't leave it alone. My question is do Clown loaches become egg bound if they don't spawn or do they reobsorb the eggs?
Clown loach full of eggs
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Lupin
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Hi Debbie,
How big is the tank? If you have heard of Colin Dunlop of Scotland, his clown loaches bred with a pH of 4.0 and hardness levels at zero in his 300g tank however he removed the eggs rather prematurely causing the eggs to become infertile.
How big is the tank? If you have heard of Colin Dunlop of Scotland, his clown loaches bred with a pH of 4.0 and hardness levels at zero in his 300g tank however he removed the eggs rather prematurely causing the eggs to become infertile.
Hi Lupin
My tank is 180g planted. Ph 7.5. I have 6 clown loaches all up. I didn't think that they would successfully spawn as I know this is not common just wanted to make sure Norman would be ok. If there is anything I should be doing or just leave well enough alone.
But I have noticed that they are digging in the sand underneath a large piece of driftwood with an anubis plant on it.
Thanks
Debbie
My tank is 180g planted. Ph 7.5. I have 6 clown loaches all up. I didn't think that they would successfully spawn as I know this is not common just wanted to make sure Norman would be ok. If there is anything I should be doing or just leave well enough alone.
But I have noticed that they are digging in the sand underneath a large piece of driftwood with an anubis plant on it.
Thanks
Debbie
Lupin
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All I can suggest is at this point, leave them alone. Condition them on high protein diet particularly mussels, bloodworms and shrimps. Do a large water change afterwards making sure the new water is a tad warmer. This might trigger them to spawn.
The high protien diet is no problem. But when you suggest large water changes are you talking daily after feeding. I currently do a 50% WC on this tank every 5 days.
Lupin
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Ahh...I'd go with over 60-70% on the next schedule. Hopefully this will trigger the fish to spawn and you won't have to worry about it possibly being egg bound which can indeed happen.
Ok have done a 75% water change with the water being added 3 degrees higher than the water in tank. Keeping fingers crossed and hoping Norman will spawn.
i too have a few different loaches that seem fatter that normal they have been like this for a while. It is not a loach only tank however. It is a 55g community tank. Will other fish mess with them if I do a water change to get them to spawn?
Wynnfang,
Depends on what your other fish are. If they are peaceful I don't think it will be a problem. They will just probably eat the eggs afterwards.
Norman didn't spawn after the first wc so I have done another at the higher temp and she is still getting bigger as we speak but their behaviour has changed (racing up and down the back of the tank and clicking more than usual) so I am hopeful that they might spawn soon. Don't care if the spawn survives just want Norman to be ok.
Good luck with your loaches
Cheers
Debbie
Depends on what your other fish are. If they are peaceful I don't think it will be a problem. They will just probably eat the eggs afterwards.
Norman didn't spawn after the first wc so I have done another at the higher temp and she is still getting bigger as we speak but their behaviour has changed (racing up and down the back of the tank and clicking more than usual) so I am hopeful that they might spawn soon. Don't care if the spawn survives just want Norman to be ok.
Good luck with your loaches
Cheers
Debbie
