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!"