Nocturnal loach shelter

[TheManichaean]

Hi all,

I've got a nocturnal loach (Botia family, but not ID'd any further than that) who has almost doubled in size from 3" to 6" since I bought him. He's outgrown his original shelter and needs to wriggle like a maniac to fit himself in.

I removed the original shelter and replaced it with a larger cave, but now he refuses to use that shelter and instead sticks his head in a loop of driftwood all day, leaving his body exposed. None of the fish in the tank will harm him, but they do scrounge around sometimes and disturb him. I just think it'd be healthier for him to live in the cave instead of hiding his head in a hole all day.

Any suggestions for getting the fella to move into his new home?

 

[greenmaji]

It sounds like he might have been more happy with the cozy home you had him in.. Maybe once the loach gets a little bigger it will like the new cave?

 

[TheManichaean]

Definitely a possibility--I'll add the old cave next to the new one and let him decide. Thanks!