Clown Loach hiding

[Wisegy84]

Hi, all. I currently have 3 clown loaches in my community tank. There is one decoration that they all like to hide and sleep in. I have only had them for a little over a week now. Two of them make a habit of coming out and swimming around actively with each other (although one is out more than the other), but I very rarely, if ever, see the third one. There are a few other places it could hide so I figured it would feel secure enough to come out, but I guess not. Any suggestions on how I can coax the shy little guy out of hiding? Thanks in advance.

 

[AnDr3w]

I think it just might be time. When he is secure, hell come out.

 

[ewurm]

If you had more of them, they would be more active.

 

[Lupin]

If you had more of them, they would be more active.

He can't have more in a 38 gallons. Best to either buy a larger tank or change with yoyo or zebra loaches instead.

 

[sguthrie]

Yeah. it'll most likely come out when it feels like it. One of my loaches used to cram itself into a hole in my bogwood, but eventually it stopped doing it as much. The best thing to do it let it chill until it feels like coming out of there.

Sam

 

[Wisegy84]

I figured it was just that it needed time. I haven't tried to get him out or disturb him so hopefully it won't be too much longer before he comes out. I have seen him a couple of times.

I know that the loaches will outgrow my tank, but they are still young and it will take a while before they reach a size that would be too large for the tank. Before that happens I will either have a larger tank ready for them, or if I don't, my lfs loves clown loaches and when they sold them to me they said they would be more than happy to buy them back if they get too big for my tank.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Kodiak]

Not a fan of people that buy fish until they cant keep them, then sell them back. you should buy fish with intending to keep them for life, make plans ahead of time.

 

[Barbie]

While with most fish, not being able to house them long term is going to cause a problem, with clown loaches I'd have to disagree. There is a huge demand for clown loaches with more size to them. I have personally purchased a good number of them from hobbyists that had them outgrowing their conditions. I can't put small ones in with cichlids and other fish and to buy them from a wholesaler is extremely cost prohibitive. Someone with a smaller tank is actually providing a service by growing them out a bit for people with multiple tanks to then purchase . I agree with the sentiment for the most part, but clown loaches are one of the very few exceptions I have to that rule .

Barbie

 

[H3D]

While with most fish, not being able to house them long term is going to cause a problem, with clown loaches I'd have to disagree. There is a huge demand for clown loaches with more size to them. I have personally purchased a good number of them from hobbyists that had them outgrowing their conditions. I can't put small ones in with cichlids and other fish and to buy them from a wholesaler is extremely cost prohibitive. Someone with a smaller tank is actually providing a service by growing them out a bit for people with multiple tanks to then purchase . I agree with the sentiment for the most part, but clown loaches are one of the very few exceptions I have to that rule .

Barbie

Being able to house them long term is not the only consideration here. A 38 gallons aquarium is too small to house clown loaches even short term IMO. It is not big enough to keep a proper size shoal of them and it will not be able to support the bio-load of the loaches if they are being fed properly. Keeping them in a 38 gallon aquarium will have negative consequences to their health in the long run. Why do you think there is such a high demand for large clown loaches? Have you considered why most clown loaches do not reach their proper adult size?

 

[H3D]

Hi, all. I currently have 3 clown loaches in my community tank. There is one decoration that they all like to hide and sleep in. I have only had them for a little over a week now. Two of them make a habit of coming out and swimming around actively with each other (although one is out more than the other), but I very rarely, if ever, see the third one. There are a few other places it could hide so I figured it would feel secure enough to come out, but I guess not. Any suggestions on how I can coax the shy little guy out of hiding? Thanks in advance.

To answer the OP question this is basically what clown loaches do. Clown loaches are nocturnal scavangers. They prefer to hide during the day and come out and look for food at night. The behavior your loach is exhibiting is perfectly normal. If one or two of them are out in the daytime they are most likely looking for food.