Disappearing Clown Loach

J

JamesBenjamin

Hopeless Romantic
Nov 7, 2002
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NoVA
www.thejoyofliving.net
Dissapearing clown loach?

Hey guys!

I just put a clown loach in my 55g this weekend, and after a few hours of nervousness, he seemed to start exploring the tank a bit, and seemed fine. But now, a few days later, we can barely even find him! The tank is heavily planted, but not enough that he could hide completely in the plants, and sometimes he's just nowhere to be found... do they burrow or anything? Is he hiding cause he's lonely? (ie: should i get another clown loach as a friend?) It seems like he's not even in there at all, even after we hunt for a half hour at a time, then he'll just show up later. It strikes me as very odd...

in case it matters, here's what else is in the tank:

4 swordtails, 4 mollies, a crazy catfish, a pleco, and some ghost shrimp and snails
 
Loaches are class one hiders--they can cram themselves into the tiniest cracks and such. Most likely, the fish is uncomfortable being by itself. A buddy or two would help.

Oh yeah...Don't get too attached to those snails. The loach will start picking them off pretty quick.
 
Yeah, he allready has started eatin' them, they came with the plants, i dont mind. Our LFS even said when we bought him that once he eats all our snails, they'll give us some out of their plant tanks for free. (the little ones)
 
clown loaches do best with at least 3 of them...5+ is best for them.

Keep in mind that they do get pretty big and you will eventually need a larger tank to accomodate their size...
 
I have a cave that is created from some stacked rocks. My clown loaches like to hide at the top of the cave where the rocks meet. It took me forever to find their hiding spot...and I only know they are there by seeing the silhouette of their fins....they really wedge themselves in there.

But they haven't made any noticeable dent in my snail population....which is a bit surprising.
 
clowns very much like to hide - but will also come out to play as well. I would however get at least 2 more - 3 should be kept at a minimum.

Don't worry about the size issue - they can get big - BUT they are pretty slow growers. I've had some which I got when they were pretty small in a 29 gallon for 2 plus years and they are only 2 to 3" long now
 
hahah this reminds me of a story on Cichlidscenes web site:

4-Lounging Loaches

I bought my first clown loaches about 10 years ago, and put them in a 125g with a bunch of cichlids. A day or two later I walked by the tank and noticed one laying on its side, motionless. Figuring him for dead I left the room to get a net, but when I came back he was gone. I looked for his body thinking that someone might have dragged it off for a feast, but no luck. I was stumped.

Another day or two later I (again) noticed a loach lying still on the gravel--this time on his back, belly up. Apparently deceased. Another trip for the net only to return to find--once again--he was gone. Another search with no luck. So this time I sat down and waited. I soon counted all eight loaches so I knew they were all alive. Turns out this is how they rest--just roll over on their side or back and catch a few zzz's, not a care in the world. Since then I've seen this on almost a daily basis. It's really funny when you catch one just about to fall asleep--it will start to tip over and then snap upright a few times as if its fighting to stay awake, only to finally plunk over on its side, out for the count.

That is from CichlidScenes website www.cichlidscene.com
 
I have 2 groups of clown loaches, and dfifferent experiences with each. My first batch I bought in a group of 6, and kept in iso for 3 weeks. Within 2 weeks they would come out when food was offered, but were never really calm if I was there. After they were clear of ick I put them in with my active schooling tiger barbs and other loaches. The clowns never hide. If there is food int eh tank they are visible, much of the rest of the time they are also visible. I think it is a combination of actiuve schooling fish and clown loach numbers.

My second group is a pair of 6 inchers I got from Petco when they were returned. (The reason I absolutely love my job now, They were both free.) Now both were okay in teh tank, but once in iso, disappeared into teh hiding places I had provided. Haven't seen them out much since. I expect when I put them in the big tank they will be fine.

Clown loaches thrive in schools, or at least trios, and keeping him alone is the first reason he's hiding. The secone may have to do with a lack of active schoolers. Swords and Mollies don't exactly school, and clowns seem to use schooling fish to judge danger, as where they come from fish school tightly, barbs, and rasboras come to mind.

As to their adult size, unlike large plecos, or oscars, you will always find someone interested in large clown loaches.

--Mia
 
I keep a group of 4 in my 100 gallon right now (while waiting for my new SE Asian tank to be ready).

They love hiding, there are caves I built into the 100, and they have taken semi permanent residence in one. If I come around they'll restreat back to around the cave opening. Then once I stop moving around in front of them so much they resume thier scurrying around the tank.

If someone "sneaks up" on the tanks and startles them they bolt back into the cave.

They have been in this tank about 2 months now.
 
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