Question on a clown loach and aggressiveness.....

[e burna]

I have a clown loach in an otherwise peaceful community aquarium. I bought him simply to get rid of snails. I got him small, and was told by the local store they would trade him in as he grew for another small one, so I didn't mind that they get bigger. I've had him for maybe 3 months or so, and lately (the past week I'd say) he has become more aggressive. I put enough shrimp tablets in the tank to feed him as well as the 6 cory's I have, but he has been going from tablet to tablet occasionally trying to chase them off. Also, I've been feeding the mid-level fish I have (6 neon's and 4 rasbora tetras) the flake food first as I turn off my bubbler for them to eat, and he has been swimming up the tank and actually chasing neons around over food. Any suggestions? Is this normal?

 

[Andos99]

Trade him in like you said.

 

[Toirtis]

How big is your tank? It is possible that he is getting growly from what he feels is a lack of space/territory...as well, clown loaches are a schooling fish, so having just one (instead of a minimal school of about 5) can affect his behaviour and cause him to act atypically.

 

[e burna]

The tank is a 29 gallon, and he had been fine for the longest time.