Clown Loaches (Not acting normally?)

So I put these Clown Loaches in the tank 2 days ago, 3 of them, to eat the
snails. I was told per my previous posts to use three because they like the
company of other Loaches and that they would eat the snails. Per the
Petsmart instructions I am feeding them dried shrimp. So far they dont seem
to be very active, they found tier holes inside of a few different pieces of
tank decoration (Shells) and they pretty much stay there doing nothing. They
definitly arent eating the snails and they just lay around doing nothing and
dont interact at all.

I have a 20 gallon tank with 18 fish (8 of them are Neon Tetras), Gouramis,
3 Molly's, the Clown Loaches and others. The tanks strip readings are all in
the normal range and the other fish are VERY active. Tank water temp is 81
degrees F.

On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 14:17:08 GMT, "JeffinMississippi"
wrote:

So I put these Clown Loaches in the tank 2 days ago, 3 of them, to eat the
snails. I was told per my previous posts to use three because they like the
company of other Loaches and that they would eat the snails. Per the
Petsmart instructions I am feeding them dried shrimp. So far they dont seem
to be very active, they found tier holes inside of a few different pieces of
tank decoration (Shells) and they pretty much stay there doing nothing. They
definitly arent eating the snails and they just lay around doing nothing and
dont interact at all.

I have a 20 gallon tank with 18 fish (8 of them are Neon Tetras), Gouramis,
3 Molly's, the Clown Loaches and others. The tanks strip readings are all in
the normal range and the other fish are VERY active. Tank water temp is 81
degrees F.


I have about 12 Clowns in 3 tanks. Their behavior is different in the
different tanks. Their behavior has also changed over the last 2 1/2
years. My tanks are kept at about 77F.

I have 2 Clowns in a 10 gallon tank. One rarely leaves a large
ornament. Its companion is out much more often.

None of the tanks that have Clowns have any snails. Over the years
none have survived. However, given the special diet you offer of
dried shrimp, why should they eat snails? I would stop the special
feeding for awhile. Don't worry, they will survive and maybe the
snails won't. g

BTW, how big/old are the Clowns?

dick

"Dick" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 14:17:08 GMT, "JeffinMississippi"
wrote:

So I put these Clown Loaches in the tank 2 days ago, 3 of them, to eat
the
snails. I was told per my previous posts to use three because they like
the
company of other Loaches and that they would eat the snails. Per the
Petsmart instructions I am feeding them dried shrimp. So far they dont
seem
to be very active, they found tier holes inside of a few different pieces
of
tank decoration (Shells) and they pretty much stay there doing nothing.
They
definitly arent eating the snails and they just lay around doing nothing
and
dont interact at all.

I have a 20 gallon tank with 18 fish (8 of them are Neon Tetras),
Gouramis,
3 Molly's, the Clown Loaches and others. The tanks strip readings are all
in
the normal range and the other fish are VERY active. Tank water temp is
81
degrees F.


I have about 12 Clowns in 3 tanks. Their behavior is different in the
different tanks. Their behavior has also changed over the last 2 1/2
years. My tanks are kept at about 77F.

I have 2 Clowns in a 10 gallon tank. One rarely leaves a large
ornament. Its companion is out much more often.

None of the tanks that have Clowns have any snails. Over the years
none have survived. However, given the special diet you offer of
dried shrimp, why should they eat snails? I would stop the special
feeding for awhile. Don't worry, they will survive and maybe the
snails won't. g

BTW, how big/old are the Clowns?


They are about 2 inches long and I just got them 3 days ago, dont know how
old. But from reading see they can live for 50 years.

"JeffinMississippi" wrote in message
news

"Dick" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 14:17:08 GMT, "JeffinMississippi"
wrote:

So I put these Clown Loaches in the tank 2 days ago, 3 of them, to
eat
the
snails. I was told per my previous posts to use three because they
like
the
company of other Loaches and that they would eat the snails. Per the
Petsmart instructions I am feeding them dried shrimp. So far they
dont
seem
to be very active, they found tier holes inside of a few different
pieces
of
tank decoration (Shells) and they pretty much stay there doing
nothing.
They
definitly arent eating the snails and they just lay around doing
nothing
and
dont interact at all.

I have a 20 gallon tank with 18 fish (8 of them are Neon Tetras),
Gouramis,
3 Molly's, the Clown Loaches and others. The tanks strip readings are
all
in
the normal range and the other fish are VERY active. Tank water temp
is
81
degrees F.


I have about 12 Clowns in 3 tanks. Their behavior is different in the
different tanks. Their behavior has also changed over the last 2 1/2
years. My tanks are kept at about 77F.

I have 2 Clowns in a 10 gallon tank. One rarely leaves a large
ornament. Its companion is out much more often.

None of the tanks that have Clowns have any snails. Over the years
none have survived. However, given the special diet you offer of
dried shrimp, why should they eat snails? I would stop the special
feeding for awhile. Don't worry, they will survive and maybe the
snails won't. g

BTW, how big/old are the Clowns?


They are about 2 inches long and I just got them 3 days ago, dont know
how
old. But from reading see they can live for 50 years.


I agree with Dick. First off, they are still acclimating, so their
behaviour for several days will probably not be typical. This applies to
almost all fish (except large predators who need to quickly establish
themselves). After that, their behaviour depends on the environment they
came from (dark, light, sheltered, crowded ? etc), and the environment
they are in now (exposed, strange fish, shadows, brightness? etc), and
Clowns are not particularly predictable anyways. You might find that
whatever your trio does, they do in 2 groups as one becomes a loner.

Part of what makes this hobby interesting (and frustrating) is a certain
amount of unpredictability.
--
www.NetMax.tk

Hi..

So I put these Clown Loaches in the tank 2 days ago, 3 of
them, to eat the snails.
I have a 20 gallon tank with 18 fish (8 of them are Neon
Tetras), Gouramis, 3 Molly's, the Clown Loaches and
others.

Sorry, personally I would _never_ recommend keeping Clown
Loaches in such a small tank. Do you possibly have any
other (bigger) aquarium?
20g tank:
Substract glas, gravel, roots, stones eventually filter
volume and look what's finally netto..

--
cu
Marco

I will toss in my 2 pennies in agreement with the others. Give the
fish a few days to become accustomed to the tank before you worry
about them behaviorally. Also, since clowns eventually reach a foot
long or more, your 20 gal tank is no more than a temporary home, and
with the other fish in that tank, it's already pretty overstocked in
my opinion. Test your water frequently and watch for trouble.

billy

--
¼á
"JeffinMississippi" wrote in message
...
So I put these Clown Loaches in the tank 2 days ago, 3 of them, to
eat the
snails. I was told per my previous posts to use three because they
like the
company of other Loaches and that they would eat the snails. Per
the
Petsmart instructions I am feeding them dried shrimp. So far they
dont seem
to be very active, they found tier holes inside of a few different
pieces of
tank decoration (Shells) and they pretty much stay there doing
nothing. They
definitly arent eating the snails and they just lay around doing
nothing and
dont interact at all.

I have a 20 gallon tank with 18 fish (8 of them are Neon Tetras),
Gouramis,
3 Molly's, the Clown Loaches and others. The tanks strip readings
are all in
the normal range and the other fish are VERY active. Tank water
temp is 81
degrees F.

"Billy" wrote in message
. ..
I will toss in my 2 pennies in agreement with the others. Give the fish a
few days to become accustomed to the tank before you worry about them
behaviorally. Also, since clowns eventually reach a foot long or more, your
20 gal tank is no more than a temporary home, and with the other fish in
that tank, it's already pretty overstocked in my opinion. Test your water
frequently and watch for trouble.

billy

I definitly agree it looks overstocked. But on one of my previous
posts/questions I was told 1 fish per gallon of water. I figured the Neon
Tetras being so small wouldnt be a problem. I already knew about the
Loaches, temporary. It was suggested in this group that I put the loaches in
the tank, let them clean up the snails and possibly the fish store would buy
them back or I could sell them.

1 fish per gallon of water?!

I don't know who told you that, but I wouldn't take it. What kind of fish?
1 adult Oscar in 1 gallon of water? What about an Arawana, Bala Shark?
Tetra's may be a different story, but still...

Fishman

"Jeff" wrote in message
...

"Billy" wrote in message
. ..
I will toss in my 2 pennies in agreement with the others. Give the fish a
few days to become accustomed to the tank before you worry about them
behaviorally. Also, since clowns eventually reach a foot long or more,
your
20 gal tank is no more than a temporary home, and with the other fish in
that tank, it's already pretty overstocked in my opinion. Test your water
frequently and watch for trouble.

billy

I definitly agree it looks overstocked. But on one of my previous
posts/questions I was told 1 fish per gallon of water. I figured the Neon
Tetras being so small wouldnt be a problem. I already knew about the
Loaches, temporary. It was suggested in this group that I put the loaches
in
the tank, let them clean up the snails and possibly the fish store would
buy
them back or I could sell them.

In article ,
"Jeff" wrote:


I definitly agree it looks overstocked. But on one of my previous
posts/questions I was told 1 fish per gallon of water. I figured the Neon

No, that's one *inch* of fish per gallon of water.

Tetras being so small wouldnt be a problem.

Correct, because they are only about an inch anyway.

--
Dan Abel

Petaluma, California, USA

On Wed, 28 Dec 2005 18:28:25 +0100, Marco Schwarz
wrote:

Hi..

So I put these Clown Loaches in the tank 2 days ago, 3 of
them, to eat the snails.
I have a 20 gallon tank with 18 fish (8 of them are Neon
Tetras), Gouramis, 3 Molly's, the Clown Loaches and
others.

Sorry, personally I would _never_ recommend keeping Clown
Loaches in such a small tank. Do you possibly have any
other (bigger) aquarium?
20g tank:
Substract glas, gravel, roots, stones eventually filter
volume and look what's finally netto..

Marco, I am curious about the attitude that Clowns need more space.
Perhaps size is part of the reason. None of my Clowns have grown much
more than 5 inches. The 2 in my 10 gallon tank seem no different than
the 6 in my 75 gallon tank, similar size, color and behavior. These
Clowns have been in their respective tanks about 2 1/2 years.

Do you have any personal experience which causes your caution about
smaller tanks?

dick