Clown loaches suddenly nowhere to be seen

Hi - I'm a VERY amateur aquariast. My wife & I bought a house with a
tank built into the wall, and the past six months have been a crash
course. We've got two angels, two clown loaches, a couple black
mollys, a host of tetras, and an algea-eater I've only seen a handful
of times.

The clown loaches are by far my favorite fish in the tank. When we
first moved in, we didn't see much of them - that was for like the
first couple of weeks only. Then they were always out, chasing each
other around, exploring, etc. Always front and center.

The other night, my wife pointed out that she hand't seen the loaches
in awhile. As I thought about it, I hadn't either. The past couple of
days I've been watching closely - they don't come out even for
feeding. For awhile, I feared they were dead inside one of their caves
(a large log with openings). But today, I was using a flashlight to
see inside the caves, and I could see one of their tails. It was
moving, so I know that at least one is alive.

Why would their behavior change so drastically and suddenly? We
recently had a high-PH event (ran out of PH- and the store we use was
on back order), but that's long past and thing have been back to
normal for awhile. That's the only factor I can think of that could
have impacted their behavior (all of the other fish seem unaffected -
it only got to about 7.5).

Any help for this blooming newbie?

Matt

wrote:
Hi - I'm a VERY amateur aquariast. My wife & I bought a house with a
tank built into the wall, and the past six months have been a crash
course. We've got two angels, two clown loaches, a couple black
mollys, a host of tetras, and an algea-eater I've only seen a handful
of times.

The clown loaches are by far my favorite fish in the tank. When we
first moved in, we didn't see much of them - that was for like the
first couple of weeks only. Then they were always out, chasing each
other around, exploring, etc. Always front and center.

The other night, my wife pointed out that she hand't seen the loaches
in awhile. As I thought about it, I hadn't either. The past couple of
days I've been watching closely - they don't come out even for
feeding. For awhile, I feared they were dead inside one of their caves
(a large log with openings). But today, I was using a flashlight to
see inside the caves, and I could see one of their tails. It was
moving, so I know that at least one is alive.

Why would their behavior change so drastically and suddenly? We
recently had a high-PH event (ran out of PH- and the store we use was
on back order), but that's long past and thing have been back to
normal for awhile. That's the only factor I can think of that could
have impacted their behavior (all of the other fish seem unaffected -
it only got to about 7.5).

Any help for this blooming newbie?

Matt

Not sure how helpful this will be, but mind did something similar.
After I had had them in my tank awhile, I purchased a fake log ornament.
This fake log was hollow. Well, after it had been in the tank for
awhile one of my clown loaches disappeared. Then another. Then I was
extremely worried. Then the third one was gone. The next morning I
found one swimming around, so I had hope for the other two. I tore the
tank apart. I lifted up the hollow log thing and one of them plopped
out. The other was wedged in it so tight no amount of shaking could
dislodge it. I put the tank back together and watched the loaches
closely. They had burrowed into the gravel to get inside the log.

All three have grown quite a bit, but still stay in the log most of the
time. They come out just before lights out and will swim up and down
and click if I wait too long to feed them.

I think this type of thing is common for clown loaches. They like to be
crammed together and they don't like light. If you check your tank when
it is dark, I bet you will find the loaches swimming around looking for
food.

kietz

Check on the loaches late at night after lights out! You may be
surprised.

On 4 May 2007 15:37:21 -0700, wrote:

Hi - I'm a VERY amateur aquariast. My wife & I bought a house with a
tank built into the wall, and the past six months have been a crash
course. We've got two angels, two clown loaches, a couple black
mollys, a host of tetras, and an algea-eater I've only seen a handful
of times.

The clown loaches are by far my favorite fish in the tank. When we
first moved in, we didn't see much of them - that was for like the
first couple of weeks only. Then they were always out, chasing each
other around, exploring, etc. Always front and center.

The other night, my wife pointed out that she hand't seen the loaches
in awhile. As I thought about it, I hadn't either. The past couple of
days I've been watching closely - they don't come out even for
feeding. For awhile, I feared they were dead inside one of their caves
(a large log with openings). But today, I was using a flashlight to
see inside the caves, and I could see one of their tails. It was
moving, so I know that at least one is alive.

Why would their behavior change so drastically and suddenly? We
recently had a high-PH event (ran out of PH- and the store we use was
on back order), but that's long past and thing have been back to
normal for awhile. That's the only factor I can think of that could
have impacted their behavior (all of the other fish seem unaffected -
it only got to about 7.5).

Any help for this blooming newbie?

Matt



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

On 4 May 2007 15:37:21 -0700, wrote:

Hi - I'm a VERY amateur aquariast. My wife & I bought a house with a
tank built into the wall, and the past six months have been a crash
course. We've got two angels, two clown loaches, a couple black
mollys, a host of tetras, and an algea-eater I've only seen a handful
of times.

The clown loaches are by far my favorite fish in the tank. When we
first moved in, we didn't see much of them - that was for like the
first couple of weeks only. Then they were always out, chasing each
other around, exploring, etc. Always front and center.

The other night, my wife pointed out that she hand't seen the loaches
in awhile. As I thought about it, I hadn't either. The past couple of
days I've been watching closely - they don't come out even for
feeding. For awhile, I feared they were dead inside one of their caves
(a large log with openings). But today, I was using a flashlight to
see inside the caves, and I could see one of their tails. It was
moving, so I know that at least one is alive.

Why would their behavior change so drastically and suddenly? We
recently had a high-PH event (ran out of PH- and the store we use was
on back order), but that's long past and thing have been back to
normal for awhile. That's the only factor I can think of that could
have impacted their behavior (all of the other fish seem unaffected -
it only got to about 7.5).

Any help for this blooming newbie?

Matt

I have 12 Clowns in 2 tanks. Same experience, when first in the tank
they were all over most of the day. Four years later and I am lucky
to see them at meal time.

One of my Clowns in a 29 gallon tank got pretty large, not just
length, but bulk. I moved him to my 75 gallon tank and now see much
more of him and his 8 buddies.

The 75 also has 11 Siamese Algae Eaters. The Clowns and the SAEs used
to swarm as one school, this stopped when the Clowns went into
seclusion, but has now returned with "Big Guy".

The 3 in the 29 gallon are out more often after I moved Big Guy. A
win win change.

On May 4, 11:37 pm, wrote:
Hi - I'm a VERY amateur aquariast. My wife & I bought a house with a
tank built into the wall, and the past six months have been a crash
course. We've got two angels, two clown loaches, a couple black
mollys, a host of tetras, and an algea-eater I've only seen a handful
of times.

The clown loaches are by far my favorite fish in the tank. When we
first moved in, we didn't see much of them - that was for like the
first couple of weeks only. Then they were always out, chasing each
other around, exploring, etc. Always front and center.

The other night, my wife pointed out that she hand't seen the loaches
in awhile. As I thought about it, I hadn't either. The past couple of
days I've been watching closely - they don't come out even for
feeding. For awhile, I feared they were dead inside one of their caves
(a large log with openings). But today, I was using a flashlight to
see inside the caves, and I could see one of their tails. It was
moving, so I know that at least one is alive.

Why would their behavior change so drastically and suddenly? We
recently had a high-PH event (ran out of PH- and the store we use was
on back order), but that's long past and thing have been back to
normal for awhile. That's the only factor I can think of that could
have impacted their behavior (all of the other fish seem unaffected -
it only got to about 7.5).

Any help for this blooming newbie?

Matt

I`ve kept clowns in the past, i had 13 at one point. Two may be to few
to make them feel safe, maybe try adding a few more, as long as your
water quailty is ok. Clowns do seem to me to become more shy with age
but i had that many they were never shy in my tank. if your worried
about them not eating then try feeding them some bloodworm!!!! hope
this helps matty s

I have five clown loaches. Most of the day, they hide in tubes and under
angled rocks. They're out for lunchtime feeding, and sometimes late night
snack.



Alan

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wrote:

Hi - I'm a VERY amateur aquariast. My wife & I bought a house with a
tank built into the wall, and the past six months have been a crash
course. We've got two angels, two clown loaches, a couple black
mollys, a host of tetras, and an algea-eater I've only seen a handful
of times.

The clown loaches are by far my favorite fish in the tank. When we
first moved in, we didn't see much of them - that was for like the
first couple of weeks only. Then they were always out, chasing each
other around, exploring, etc. Always front and center.

The other night, my wife pointed out that she hand't seen the loaches
in awhile. As I thought about it, I hadn't either. The past couple of
days I've been watching closely - they don't come out even for
feeding. For awhile, I feared they were dead inside one of their caves
(a large log with openings). But today, I was using a flashlight to
see inside the caves, and I could see one of their tails. It was
moving, so I know that at least one is alive.

Why would their behavior change so drastically and suddenly? We
recently had a high-PH event (ran out of PH- and the store we use was
on back order), but that's long past and thing have been back to
normal for awhile. That's the only factor I can think of that could
have impacted their behavior (all of the other fish seem unaffected -
it only got to about 7.5).

Any help for this blooming newbie?

Matt


Hi Matt,
I too am a newbie. Keeping fish gets easier as time goes and one
learns. I've been keeping community fish since 2002. You have gotten
some good feed back so far. I'll add what worked for my clowns and me.

The following Is info I got from discussions here on the groups. This
info worked for my setup, things may be different for your setup.

General Tropical fish keeping; Unless you are breading fish,
Tropical fish, in general, will adjust to the pH that comes from your
tap (unless you have something "really" weird). Tropical fish do better
in a stable pH, rather than a pH that is spot-on occasionally. My clowns
live at 7.6. The trick here is "regular water changes", with gravel vac
of course. Water changes weekly or every other week, depending on the
fish load, seems typical, every other week works for me. I do buffer my
water with a bag of crushed corral.

On how to get Clown Loaches to come out; They need to feel
comfortable. The recommendation I got was, lots of active fish in the
tank. I think someone referred to them a dither fish. Yup, for me it
worked. The Loaches, that are in my trust, are out all the time. I think
they may hide and sleep while I'm at work (they really do like to sleep
and hide). But when I'm home, they are out and about. Though it was 2
years before things really settled in.

This is my setup; 75 gal US tank. 5 clown loaches, the largest is 5
inches ("standard length" (SL), doesn't count the tail fin). The
smallest is now 3 inches SL. The other inhabitancy of the tank include,
3 adult rainbow fish, 8 black skirt tetra, 12 Rummy nosed Tetra, 3 Zebra
danios, 2 SAE, 3 Oto's, 1 Rubber nosed Pl*co. No live plants.

Yes my tank bio load is over maxed, So I built a sump filter. But, a
75 gal tank is good for 76 inches of adult fish if the filter you have
is rated for it, and you do your regular water changes. So 3 to 5
clowns and enough dither fish should be doable with a sufficiently rated
hangon filter.

Your tank will get easier, more fun and enjoyable, as time goes on.

Here is a web page that used to get recommended here all the time for
general tropical fish keeping, and I still visit there frequently.

http://www.thekrib.com/

And a great web page dedicated to loaches.

http://www.loaches.com/

Too, If you google back through all the fish related groups, there is
a wealth of info, from very knowledgeable folks, for fish keepers "from
beginner to staunch breeder"

What does your setup consist of? Tank size? Plants? fish? Filter?
local water?


HTH, and All the Best of luck to you!!!

Paul

Thanks to all for the great advice. I'm please to say that in the week
since my posting, I've seen both of them out and about--not nearly as
much as they were before, but they're healthy and somewhat active.
I've read quite a lot online about loaches and have discovered that
two really isn't enough, so I plan on adding two more.

Not sure why they got so shy so suddenly. But I guess that's just the
way it goes with fish sometimes.

Thanks again to all.

Matt

In .com, on 05/10/07
at 10:16 PM, said:

Thanks to all for the great advice. I'm please to say that in the week
since my posting, I've seen both of them out and about--not nearly as
much as they were before, but they're healthy and somewhat active. I've
read quite a lot online about loaches and have discovered that two really
isn't enough, so I plan on adding two more.

Not sure why they got so shy so suddenly. But I guess that's just the way
it goes with fish sometimes.

If there is room in your tank to add more fish, I'd add three clown
loaches. They're happiest in small schools. They're expensive, but they
live a long time if properly cared for.

Here's a good loach site: loachesonline.com


Alan

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Yep the loach bogie man struck again.........and ate them suckers!


-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!