I have two clown loaches. One is bigger than the other and they both have been doing awesome I have had them for about a month. I have a sunken ship ornament In my tank and they both like to be In there. When I look In the ship I see the big one laying on its side but when I tap the glass it starts to act normal. Can you please explain this.
clown loach
- Thread starter loman1720
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
adadkins1
Aquarium Advice Addict
I have actually heard that loaches, like clowns, will lay on their side as if they are sleeping. It is a perfectly normal thing.
How big is your tank? I know you said they are doing fine, but if you have room, clown loaches really like to be kept in groups of 5+.
How big is your tank? I know you said they are doing fine, but if you have room, clown loaches really like to be kept in groups of 5+.
BrainiacPaul
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Haha, that's what I was worried about when I first started keepin them too!
Nothing to worry about, they are named clown loaches for more than just their appearance! They lie around sometimes looking as if they are resting, usually just because they can. yesterday I found my clown loach under a large rock, not moving and as you could imagine, I was extremely worried, so I put my hand in the water and went to move the rock, but the little guy just un-wedged himself from under the rock and swam away as if nothing had happened.
They are a very entertaining species of freshwater fish and they have alot of character. Most often if they look like they are in trouble they are usually fine, but it doesn't hurt to help them out of a tough situation like under a rock or something.
Another interesting behaviour is "dancing" where a school of clown loaches will swim up and down the side of the tank, from the substrate to the air and back again. It's just their way of keeping entertained I reckon.
But yeah, nothing to worry about if they are just lying around on the substrate or ornaments.
How small is the smaller one? And does he/she have a sunken stomach?
Nothing to worry about, they are named clown loaches for more than just their appearance! They lie around sometimes looking as if they are resting, usually just because they can. yesterday I found my clown loach under a large rock, not moving and as you could imagine, I was extremely worried, so I put my hand in the water and went to move the rock, but the little guy just un-wedged himself from under the rock and swam away as if nothing had happened.
They are a very entertaining species of freshwater fish and they have alot of character. Most often if they look like they are in trouble they are usually fine, but it doesn't hurt to help them out of a tough situation like under a rock or something.
Another interesting behaviour is "dancing" where a school of clown loaches will swim up and down the side of the tank, from the substrate to the air and back again. It's just their way of keeping entertained I reckon.
But yeah, nothing to worry about if they are just lying around on the substrate or ornaments.
How small is the smaller one? And does he/she have a sunken stomach?
BrainiacPaul
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
like how is it shaped? is his stomach like a curve inward to the rest of it's body or is it a little plump?
Crypto
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2011
- Messages
- 166
Hello,
A 30 gallon is way too small for clown loaches. They will need at least a 100+ gallon tank for a proper school ~ 4-6(They get around 10-12 inches each)
A 30 gallon is way too small for clown loaches. They will need at least a 100+ gallon tank for a proper school ~ 4-6(They get around 10-12 inches each)
Crypto
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2011
- Messages
- 166
Hello,
They might be small and doing great now, but soon they will not. If not kept in the right size tank, it could cause stunting to the fish (Very painful for fish). So, I would recommend you either re-home them soon or get a bigger tank
They might be small and doing great now, but soon they will not. If not kept in the right size tank, it could cause stunting to the fish (Very painful for fish). So, I would recommend you either re-home them soon or get a bigger tank
BrainiacPaul
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
And just be wary of any other clown loaches that you may buy as clown loaches are very susceptible to "skinny disease".
And crypto is right, they do grow to about a foot long, most Fish stores sell you clown loaches without advising you of how big they can get and how big of a tank they need to live in comfort.
And crypto is right, they do grow to about a foot long, most Fish stores sell you clown loaches without advising you of how big they can get and how big of a tank they need to live in comfort.
Crypto
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2011
- Messages
- 166
Clowns actually grow quickly In My Experience, they don't grow slow whatsoever. I just recommend getting them out of that tank soon
bruinsbro1997
Aquarium Advice Addict
loman1720 said:
True clowns grow slowly but still if you knew they got bigger and you would eventually have to sell them to an LFS, why'd you buy them???
adadkins1
Aquarium Advice Addict
How large are they right now? I would advise you upgrade ASAP to give them plenty of room. They still need to be in a larger group, even if they don't seem stressed.
You could, however, get a smaller species of loach to go in you 30g when you upgrade the clowns. Pakistani Loaches and Kuhli Loaches are the first that come to mind.
You could, however, get a smaller species of loach to go in you 30g when you upgrade the clowns. Pakistani Loaches and Kuhli Loaches are the first that come to mind.
Crypto
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2011
- Messages
- 166
Hello,
Well then, you just going to have to return them or give them to someone that has the appropriate home.
Well then, you just going to have to return them or give them to someone that has the appropriate home.
bruinsbro1997
Aquarium Advice Addict
loman1720 said:
That's understandable. Well you can't sop the inevitable, so enjoy them while you can!
adadkins1
Aquarium Advice Addict
I, too understand this. I have to work my butt off for what little money that I get.
However, with all due respect, you shouldn't have bought them if you were not going to be able to keep a proper school of the fish and provided them with an appropriate sized tank.
I think you should get rid of them soon, no matter how much you like them, for the best of the fish.
