Best friends

[Glenn Woodell]

I introduced a clown loach to my tank a few weeks ago and my lone serpae tetra
immediately started to pester him. It would follow him all over the tank and
nudge him although the loach never seemed to even notice. There was never any
fin nipping but just annoying nudging and it's still going on.

Now I've figured out what is happening. The loach actually follows the tetra
all around the tank while the tetra nudges the loach occasionally, especially
while the loach is trying to search for food. It's as if they've become best
buddies. It's hard to find the serpae without the clown nearby unless the
latter is resting on the back of the tank.

It's quite a show.

Glenn

[Ali Day]

"Glenn Woodell" > wrote in message
news:283oc.2$65.0@lakeread06...
> I introduced a clown loach to my tank a few weeks ago and my lone serpae
tetra
> immediately started to pester him. It would follow him all over the tank
and
> nudge him although the loach never seemed to even notice. There was never
any
> fin nipping but just annoying nudging and it's still going on.
>
> Now I've figured out what is happening. The loach actually follows the
tetra
> all around the tank while the tetra nudges the loach occasionally,
especially
> while the loach is trying to search for food. It's as if they've become
best
> buddies. It's hard to find the serpae without the clown nearby unless the
> latter is resting on the back of the tank.

Not really surprising, if your clown is on its own. I had a mass death a
couple of years back due to hot weather, and lost all but one loach, and the
difference when he was on his own was incredible.

I would suggest at least four more clown loaches for him to hang round with.

Cheers

A

[Glenn Woodell]

In article >, says...
>
>I would suggest at least four more clown loaches for him to hang round with.

I would but my tank is small and I am already over quota. :(

Glenn

[NetMax]

"Glenn Woodell" > wrote in message
news:283oc.2$65.0@lakeread06...
> I introduced a clown loach to my tank a few weeks ago and my lone
serpae tetra
> immediately started to pester him. It would follow him all over the
tank and
> nudge him although the loach never seemed to even notice. There was
never any
> fin nipping but just annoying nudging and it's still going on.
>
> Now I've figured out what is happening. The loach actually follows the
tetra
> all around the tank while the tetra nudges the loach occasionally,
especially
> while the loach is trying to search for food. It's as if they've become
best
> buddies. It's hard to find the serpae without the clown nearby unless
the
> latter is resting on the back of the tank.
>
> It's quite a show.
>
> Glenn

Thanks for posting. Refreshing to not have to read about more diseased
fish and it was actually a neat story :o)
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Victor Martinez]

Glenn Woodell wrote:
> I would but my tank is small and I am already over quota. :(

It's a good idea to do a little research on the needs of fish before
buying them.

--
Victor Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Dick]

On Tue, 11 May 2004 14:23:12 +0200, "Ali Day"
> wrote:

>
>"Glenn Woodell" > wrote in message
>news:283oc.2$65.0@lakeread06...
>> I introduced a clown loach to my tank a few weeks ago and my lone serpae
>tetra
>> immediately started to pester him. It would follow him all over the tank
>and
>> nudge him although the loach never seemed to even notice. There was never
>any
>> fin nipping but just annoying nudging and it's still going on.
>>
>> Now I've figured out what is happening. The loach actually follows the
>tetra
>> all around the tank while the tetra nudges the loach occasionally,
>especially
>> while the loach is trying to search for food. It's as if they've become
>best
>> buddies. It's hard to find the serpae without the clown nearby unless the
>> latter is resting on the back of the tank.
>
>Not really surprising, if your clown is on its own. I had a mass death a
>couple of years back due to hot weather, and lost all but one loach, and the
>difference when he was on his own was incredible.
>
>I would suggest at least four more clown loaches for him to hang round with.
>
>Cheers
>
>A
>
I have one runt Clown Loach. I pulled him out of my 75 gallon tank as
he was not doing well. I put him in a 10 gallon tank and he still
seemed to be pestered by the SAEs. So, I finally moved him to my
quaranteen tank in which I keep everything going with some Black
Mollies and one large female platty with a large growth behind her
right eye. Anyway, the Clown started eating and grew a bit and made
up with the platty. That lasted for months, but now the Clown is
staying to himself. I tried moving him back to the 10 gallon
community tank and he dug a cave under some rocks, so I moved him back
to the Q tank where he seems quite content.

One size does not fit all. I am constantly amazed how many variations
on a behavioral theme exist. I have two Clowns in another 10 gallon
tank and they are tight buds, active, healthy and ignore the rest of
the fish completely. I would never separate the pair as I would fear
I would lose both. In my 75 gallon tank I have 8 Clowns. They rarely
interact whereas in a 29 gallon tank I have 3 Clowns that stay
together much of the time.

[Glenn Woodell]

In article >, says...
>
>Glenn Woodell wrote:
>> I would but my tank is small and I am already over quota. :(
>
>It's a good idea to do a little research on the needs of fish before
>buying them.

And your point?

[Victor Martinez]

Glenn Woodell wrote:
> And your point?

You shouldn't have bought a clown loach for such a small tank.

--
Victor Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Glenn Woodell]

In article >, says...
>
>Glenn Woodell wrote:
>> And your point?
>
>You shouldn't have bought a clown loach for such a small tank.

And you have yours in a 10,000 gallon tank? My loach is quite happy where he
is and my water chemisty is fine.

Glenn

[NetMax]

"Glenn Woodell" > wrote in message
news:rwpoc.369$65.221@lakeread06...
> In article >,
says...
> >
> >Glenn Woodell wrote:
> >> And your point?
> >
> >You shouldn't have bought a clown loach for such a small tank.
>
> And you have yours in a 10,000 gallon tank? My loach is quite happy
where he
> is and my water chemisty is fine.
>
> Glenn


Man o' man, what I would put in a 10,000 gallon tank ;~). That's a whole
new thread! The inescapable facts, however presented, is that loaches
(and tetras) do better with the company of their own kind, and they are
fine in small tanks until they need to be upgraded as appropriate
(imnsho). However you get there, either by researching in advance or by
upgrading their housing as needed, is up to you.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Glenn Woodell]

In article >,
says...
>
>Man o' man, what I would put in a 10,000 gallon tank ;~). That's a whole
>new thread! The inescapable facts, however presented, is that loaches
>(and tetras) do better with the company of their own kind, and they are
>fine in small tanks until they need to be upgraded as appropriate
>(imnsho).

I completely understand and agree with your better presentation. Without the
entire history of my tank (pretty boring actually) it would seem that I am
just tossing fish around but that is not the case. Until I get that 10,000
gallon tank I'll have to make do with what I have. :)

Glenn

[MarAzul]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 11 May 2004 14:23:12 +0200, "Ali Day"
> > wrote:
>
>
> One size does not fit all. I am constantly amazed how many variations
> on a behavioral theme exist.

I'll second that. I had 2 small Bala Sharks in a 30G tank and over the
course of a year they *maybe* grew a half an inch. A month ago I had
problems in that tank and moved the Balas to the 10G so they wouldn't get
eaten and MAN! Those suckers are growing! I've had one grow a half inch in
the 1 month they've been there. Hopefully in a couple weeks when they go to
their new 60G home they'll keep growing..

Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------
It's better to let someone think you're an idiot than to open your mouth and
prove it.

[Victor Martinez]

Glenn Woodell wrote:
> And you have yours in a 10,000 gallon tank? My loach is quite happy where he
> is and my water chemisty is fine.

I have 7 clown loaches in a 110 gallon tank. So, how exactly do you
figure your clown loach is "quite happy"?

--
Victor Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam here:
Email me here:

[Dick]

On Thu, 13 May 2004 13:06:35 GMT, Victor Martinez >
wrote:

>Glenn Woodell wrote:
>> And you have yours in a 10,000 gallon tank? My loach is quite happy where he
>> is and my water chemisty is fine.
>
>I have 7 clown loaches in a 110 gallon tank. So, how exactly do you
>figure your clown loach is "quite happy"?


Your question was not to me, but I have an opinion. I have 13 Clown
Loaches in 4 tanks. The CL by himself was with others when younger,
but was not doing well. How do I know? He didn't move around, get
bigger, poor color. I moved him to my quarantine tank and he started
eating, putting on weight and color. After 4 months when he appeared
well, I put him back to his original tank. He dug a cave under some
rocks and came out rarely in the day time. (no idea about night) I
moved him back to the Q tank and he is swimming about and comes up to
the top at feeding time.

I am surprised you ask the question. I just react to looking at a
fish. An unhappy, or some might say sick, fish loses color, activity,
joining in with others, fins droop, they stay to themselves. Lots of
clues. Often it is illness, who can be "quite happy" when ill? But,
I have seen improvement through a change of tanks. Who knows,
perhaps, the fish was being bullied and I didn't see it. But the
change from unhappy to quite happy happens within hours.

One problem I have with my 75 gallon tank is being able to note what
is happening with individual fish. I have several species with 8 to
11 fish. It is much easier to notice large fish or special fish. I
hardly pay attention to the 11 White Clouds. They all look the same.
Perhaps 110 gallons and a large number of fish makes it hard to focus
on individuals? One fish I am always aware of is a black angelfish in
a 29 gallon tank. She always is first to the top when I open the lid.
She is the largest fish in the tank. She always keeps her eyes on me
as I move about. Funny, but black mollies are always aware of my
movement. I tend to watch them in return.

I may have missed the point of your question, but if I take it
literally it is a sad thing to be asking. I wonder what pleasure your
tank is giving you if you are not seeing the fish as individuals? I
hope you have at least one that is special to you. If you do, I bet
you know when it is "quite happy!"

[Glenn Woodell]

In article >, says...
>
>Glenn Woodell wrote:
>> And you have yours in a 10,000 gallon tank? My loach is quite happy where
he
>> is and my water chemisty is fine.
>
>I have 7 clown loaches in a 110 gallon tank. So, how exactly do you
>figure your clown loach is "quite happy"?

I'm not even going to continue this silly conversation.

Glenn

[Ali Day]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 13 May 2004 13:06:35 GMT, Victor Martinez >
> wrote:
>
> >Glenn Woodell wrote:
> >> And you have yours in a 10,000 gallon tank? My loach is quite happy
where he
> >> is and my water chemisty is fine.
> >
> >I have 7 clown loaches in a 110 gallon tank. So, how exactly do you
> >figure your clown loach is "quite happy"?
>
>
> Your question was not to me, but I have an opinion. I have 13 Clown
> Loaches in 4 tanks. The CL by himself was with others when younger,
> but was not doing well. How do I know? He didn't move around, get
> bigger, poor color. I moved him to my quarantine tank and he started
> eating, putting on weight and color. After 4 months when he appeared
> well, I put him back to his original tank. He dug a cave under some
> rocks and came out rarely in the day time. (no idea about night) I
> moved him back to the Q tank and he is swimming about and comes up to
> the top at feeding time.

My 8 clowns have been in the new tank about 3 days, so they are still
getting used to it. I always had plenty of hidy holes in my old 75g tank,
and that was a bit of a problem, I didn't know if I even had 8 loaches in
the tank anymore, I never saw them. When I pulled everything out of the tank
last week, lo and behold, all 8 loaches, and a couple of them had turned
into right old fatties.
I even found a couple of shrimps that I hadn't seen in 6 months.
Now they're in the new tank, alot softer sand, but still the same hidy
holes, they aren't interested in them, one or two will take a quick break in
their old hole, but then join the rest flying round the tank. They only used
to come out when it was dark, and now they are only out when it's light, and
as soon as the light goes off they disappear into their holes.
And the discus have bloomed in the new tank, fins seem bigger, maybe it's
because they have so much room now.

complete inventory (hence the reason for a new tank)
3 discus 6"
8 clowns 3 - 7"
2 plecs (no idea what type, but haven't grown past 5" in two years)
10 rummy nosed tetras 1"
6 glass catfish 4"
3 SAE
2 shrimps (japonica)

[RedForeman ©®]

|| I'm not even going to continue this silly conversation.
||
|| Glenn

Why is it a silly conversation? Because you're not being told what you want
to hear? Sorry, it's opinion based, and that's the nature of the beasts
sometimes...

--
RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike
streetfighter!!! ==========================
2003 TRX450ES
1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
'98 Tacoma Ext Cab 4X4 Lifted....
==========================
ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø


is that better??

[Glenn Woodell]

In article >, says...
>
>|| I'm not even going to continue this silly conversation.
>||
>|| Glenn
>
>Why is it a silly conversation? Because you're not being told what you want
>to hear? Sorry, it's opinion based, and that's the nature of the beasts
>sometimes...

Because this guy started in on me based on assumptions. I am not willing to
go through the history of my tank with someone with this attitude. I simply
stated that I did not have the room for more clown loaches and I get a
condecending response. I guess if I had done my research and had the
PROPER number of clown loaches but something happened and I lost all but one
I'd have to kill the little guy just because he didn't meet someone's
definittion of a happy fish.

Personally I do not care what I hear from this thread. If you note, my
original post contained no question marks. I was not soliciting advice, but
merely sharing my experience. I think I can judge whether my fish is content
since I am the one who does the feeding, does the maintenence, watches the
fish, etc.

At least a few here enjoyed my original post as evidence by private e-mails I
have received (for fear of retribution from others here).

If you want to start a thread on stocking levels for tanks then surely a new
thread would be more appropriate. This thread was about how my clown loach and
my serpae tetra get along so well.

Glenn

[Glenn Woodell]

In article >, says...
>
>Glenn Woodell wrote:
>> And you have yours in a 10,000 gallon tank? My loach is quite happy where
he
>> is and my water chemisty is fine.
>
>I have 7 clown loaches in a 110 gallon tank. So, how exactly do you
>figure your clown loach is "quite happy"?

He tells me so.

Glenn

[Ali Day]

"Glenn Woodell" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
says...
> >
> >Glenn Woodell wrote:
> >> And you have yours in a 10,000 gallon tank? My loach is quite happy
where
> he
> >> is and my water chemisty is fine.
> >
> >I have 7 clown loaches in a 110 gallon tank. So, how exactly do you
> >figure your clown loach is "quite happy"?
>
> He tells me so.

Can I get some of that on prescription ;)

[RedForeman ©®]

|| Because this guy started in on me based on assumptions. I am not
|| willing to go through the history of my tank with someone with this
|| attitude. I simply stated that I did not have the room for more
|| clown loaches and I get a condecending response. I guess if I had
|| done my research and had the
|| PROPER number of clown loaches but something happened and I lost all
|| but one I'd have to kill the little guy just because he didn't meet
|| someone's definittion of a happy fish.

I don't think that's what anybody ever meant to say, and I'm sure if you'd
hang around awhile, you'd notice these people are just very fond of treating
their wet pets with respect and try to maintain a near perfect environment
for them... If you feel that someone has come down hard on you, (I've been
accused of being a hardliner before) then maybe it's the way you state your
original questions, or the fact that we can't tell or see humor over the net
sometimes...

|| Personally I do not care what I hear from this thread. If you note,
|| my original post contained no question marks. I was not soliciting
|| advice, but merely sharing my experience. I think I can judge
|| whether my fish is content since I am the one who does the feeding,
|| does the maintenence, watches the fish, etc.

Remember, we're only given 20seconds of a 2year saga, sometimes we can take
things the wrong way.... it happens, no fault to anyone, it just does...

|| At least a few here enjoyed my original post as evidence by private
|| e-mails I have received (for fear of retribution from others here).

Great, then you realize that this group is made up of a bunch of good people
and me, one arsehole... hahaha!!!

|| If you want to start a thread on stocking levels for tanks then
|| surely a new thread would be more appropriate. This thread was about
|| how my clown loach and my serpae tetra get along so well.
||
|| Glenn

Here's what most people would say when someone gets upset when they don't
hear what they were hoping to hear, "this is usenet, get a thicker skin...."

Take it for what it's worth... there are many VERY knowledgeable pple here,
it'd be a waste NOT to use some suggestions, and ignore the ones that dont'
apply to your tank...k?

--
RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike
streetfighter!!! ==========================
2003 TRX450ES
1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
'98 Tacoma Ext Cab 4X4 Lifted....
==========================
ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸¸¸,ø¤° `°¤ø,¸¸,ø¤°`°¤ø


is that better??

[Glenn Woodell]

In article >, says...
>
>I'm sure if you'd
>hang around awhile, you'd notice these people are just very fond of treating
>their wet pets with respect and try to maintain a near perfect environment
>for them...

I'm sure of that and I feel the same way which was the basis for my original
post. Those guys looked like they were really hafing a lot of fun so I wanted
to write about them.

>If you feel that someone has come down hard on you, (I've been
>accused of being a hardliner before) then maybe it's the way you state your
>original questions, or the fact that we can't tell or see humor over the net
>sometimes...

I think it was that I stated that I introduced ONE clown loach to my tank
rather than the CORRECT number.

In any case I really enjoy my fish and have enjoyed the stories as well as the
questions and answers here. I have been following this group for 2 years,
mostly lurking but adding and taking occasionally as well.

Glenn

[Dick]

On Fri, 14 May 2004 15:26:31 +0200, "Ali Day"
> wrote:

>
>"Dick" > wrote in message
...
>> On Thu, 13 May 2004 13:06:35 GMT, Victor Martinez >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Glenn Woodell wrote:
>> >> And you have yours in a 10,000 gallon tank? My loach is quite happy
>where he
>> >> is and my water chemisty is fine.
>> >
>> >I have 7 clown loaches in a 110 gallon tank. So, how exactly do you
>> >figure your clown loach is "quite happy"?
>>
>>
>> Your question was not to me, but I have an opinion. I have 13 Clown
>> Loaches in 4 tanks. The CL by himself was with others when younger,
>> but was not doing well. How do I know? He didn't move around, get
>> bigger, poor color. I moved him to my quarantine tank and he started
>> eating, putting on weight and color. After 4 months when he appeared
>> well, I put him back to his original tank. He dug a cave under some
>> rocks and came out rarely in the day time. (no idea about night) I
>> moved him back to the Q tank and he is swimming about and comes up to
>> the top at feeding time.
>
>My 8 clowns have been in the new tank about 3 days, so they are still
>getting used to it. I always had plenty of hidy holes in my old 75g tank,
>and that was a bit of a problem, I didn't know if I even had 8 loaches in
>the tank anymore, I never saw them. When I pulled everything out of the tank
>last week, lo and behold, all 8 loaches, and a couple of them had turned
>into right old fatties.
>I even found a couple of shrimps that I hadn't seen in 6 months.
>Now they're in the new tank, alot softer sand, but still the same hidy
>holes, they aren't interested in them, one or two will take a quick break in
>their old hole, but then join the rest flying round the tank. They only used
>to come out when it was dark, and now they are only out when it's light, and
>as soon as the light goes off they disappear into their holes.
>And the discus have bloomed in the new tank, fins seem bigger, maybe it's
>because they have so much room now.
>
>complete inventory (hence the reason for a new tank)
>3 discus 6"
>8 clowns 3 - 7"
>2 plecs (no idea what type, but haven't grown past 5" in two years)
>10 rummy nosed tetras 1"
>6 glass catfish 4"
>3 SAE
>2 shrimps (japonica)
>
I am so disappointed when my Clown Loaches pull the disappearing act.
They almost always show up for feeding time. I never had any luck
with shrimp (ghost). They either jumped out or ended up in my power
filter.