9" clown loach suddenly chases pack?

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888fish

888fish

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 19, 2008
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CA
Pack of 12 clown loaches:
-3 x 3"
-6 x 6.5-7"
- 8"
- 8-9"
- 9"+
The largest loach starting chasing and nipping at all the rest of the pack last night and is still going at it. They have slightly damaged slime coating due to this. He is the dominant loach. What is going on? They have been living together for a couple of yrs, with additions along the way. Experts, please chime in. Photo below.View attachment 790346




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I had that happenned to me a few yrs back. My giant 10" loach would target two specific loaches. The injured loach had marks and loss some slime coat. I managed to separate the loach and save one. I let it heal and sold him to a friend. I couldn't figure out why they would behave like this. I added 8 new new clown loaches and all is fine again.


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Wasn't able to see the photo. Well, your asking for experts and i'm not gonna call myself one, but i do have a group of about 20 clowns ranging from 3" to 12". I did have 1 of my large clowns go crazy for a few days when i added a new group with him. He suddenly hated them all. It was pretty relentless, but not causing physical damage (aggresion was very spread out). I mixed the decor up by switching positions of some of the rocks n caves n also added a new decor to get his attention off them. It worked immediately and a couple days later i switched everything back. After that he stopped bothering them. gd luck with them
 
Actually, it is picking on the next largest, fattest loach. Its slime looking worst now, but it is still eating and active. I'll try to turn off the lights (usually on 12hrs/day.) This sucks! Literally and figuratively. Thanks for the advice guys ^. Anyone else? Will this just stop suddenly?
 
I'm not an expert either, but I have seen my 9" clown loach (alpha) go through mood swings and start nipping at others. Does it for about a week and then stops. No clue why.

Maybe the loach that is being picked on tried to disturb the peace in some way, (maybe even took a shot at becoming alpha) so the alpha is setting him straight. I know it sounds weird, but I have personally seen (and caught on video even) my 9" breaking up fights between my 2 7"'s on more than one occasion.

Or maybe something in the pecking order changed and he is reasserting dominance.
 
It seems to have subsided a bit. Check again tonight. One note, I did add 3 x 3" clown loaches last week into the pack. Hierarchy issues? Only thing, he is the sole perpetrator. No retaliation from the second largest (primary target.)


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Yes it sounds like a hierarchy order issue. Keep a close eye on it bcuz I have witness my big boy killing my other loach. Here is a pic

Let's see your big loach OP.
82d1470d.jpg



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I had a 6" loach which was the terror as I presume it was him. Was never sure as I could never see it going on. It was at night for sure though. But he was nipping at fins and battle scars were present on about 7-8 loaches. The attacks were at random one by one. Dorsal fins were also damaged. To remedy, all I did was added more loaches and it stopped. It's a territorial hiarchy thing that they do. It passed after a month. This is just opinion, but I believe if you take all the decos out temporarily, the behavior may stop sooner.
 
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