Clown Loaches pestering my Carpintis

[TUCCI]

Greetings everyone, I've got 4 juvenile CLs in with a juvenile Carpintis and the bigger the CLs grow (Which is faster than the Carpintis which tend to grow slower) they are pestering the Carpintis. Not so much pestering as acting with it, as they do with each other which if you know CLs can be intrusive. Almost like they consider it part of their pack. Most of the time the Carpintis doesn't seem too disturbed but, since the CLs have more than doubled in size over the last 4 months, it's starting to get defensive. This Carpintis is super mellow and gets overwhelmed by all the fracus.
Can anyone with extensive experience with CLs share any insights as to why and if I should be concerned? Thanks

 

[Andy Sager]

The reason your loaches appear to be growing faster is because they are a long fish ( can grow to 12" or more) while the carpintis is a tall fish (that only grows to about 8" in length.) Clown loaches also like to live in big groups while the carpintis is more of a loner in the cichlid world. If the carpintis is still eating and not getting cheated out of food, you shouldn't worry. If it's not getting his share of food, try feeding the loaches on one side of the tank while feeding the cichild on the other side of the tank at the same time.

Assuming your whole tank looks like your avatar picture, you should put in some PVC pipe or make long tunnels with rock in the tank for the loaches to hide in. They may leave the cichlid alone if they have good places to hide in. Your cichlid also is a territorial fish so you want to make sure you have a structure or cave in the tank for him to call home.

 

[TUCCI24]

The reason your loaches appear to be growing faster is because they are a long fish ( can grow to 12" or more) while the carpintis is a tall fish (that only grows to about 8" in length.) Clown loaches also like to live in big groups while the carpintis is more of a loner in the cichlid world. If the carpintis is still eating and not getting cheated out of food, you shouldn't worry. If it's not getting his share of food, try feeding the loaches on one side of the tank while feeding the cichild on the other side of the tank at the same time.

Assuming your whole tank looks like your avatar picture, you should put in some PVC pipe or make long tunnels with rock in the tank for the loaches to hide in. They may leave the cichlid alone if they have good places to hide in. Your cichlid also is a territorial fish so you want to make sure you have a structure or cave in the tank for him to call home.

Thanks for the response it's appreciated. This particular Carpintis is extremely mellow to the point that it doesn't behave at all like any Texas I've seen. I was originally concerned for the Clown Loaches being hammered by it with the opposite being the outcome. Perhaps it being a hybrid Texas is the reason or this batch of CLs are the most aggressive I've ever seen. We comment all the time how they are always out and are hungry all the time. I'm used to seeing CLs hide a lot but not these. They are out all day long only going to bed when all the lights in the house go out. I do expect them to slow down once they get some size but right now, they are in your face to the point they take food right out of my hand and come to the surface mooching constantly. I originally wanted them in there for scavenging but they've become the center piece.

 

[Andy Sager]

Just goes to show, not all fish read the book ( or internet) about them.

 

[TUCCI24]

For sure