adult clown loaches color

[justin guest]

Nice shoal of loaches Justin, and very nice overall color.

Thx. You aint got a bad shoal yourself!

FYI - mussel is an excellent source of amino acids (protein) but won't do a whole lot in the color enhancement department. I suspect that for the most part what you are seeing is good genetics at work.

I tend to disagree with you on the genetics theory though as most of my loaches were bought large with a lot less colour. Their colour only came up after about 1-3 months in the tank. I´ve also spoken to a couple of aquatics wholesalers in Germany and they´ve noticed the same effect when using mussel meat or bloodworms.

j<><

 

[RD.]

I can understand that, it took some of my loaches a good 8 weeks just to feel comfortable in their new surroundings when introduced to my tank. Some of them were actually "greyed out" for that entire period. It's also quite possible that your fishes previous diet was just lacking in quantity or quality protein, and that change by itself made for a healthier (hence more colorful) fish.

As previously stated, mussel is an excellent source of amino acids (far better than bloodworms), but neither contain the type of natural color enhancing agents that would specifically enhance the yellow or red spectrum in a fish. Not trying to nit pick, I was just attempting to add to the knowledge base on this subject. My area of expertise (not that I am saying that I am an expert, 'cause I'm not) is in fish nutrition, color enhancement being a large part of that field.

HTH

 

[irwan]

I dont know much about mussel nutrition but one should remember, clown loach will show its maximum color only when it happy. Just make a good environment to make your CL happy.

Source of CL also will determine whether ur CL have solid color or not. IMHO, kalimantan origin have more solid color compared to sumatra origin.

 

[justin guest]

I can understand that, it took some of my loaches a good 8 weeks just to feel comfortable in their new surroundings when introduced to my tank. Some of them were actually "greyed out" for that entire period. It's also quite possible that your fishes previous diet was just lacking in quantity or quality protein, and that change by itself made for a healthier (hence more colorful) fish.

As previously stated, mussel is an excellent source of amino acids (far better than bloodworms), but neither contain the type of natural color enhancing agents that would specifically enhance the yellow or red spectrum in a fish. Not trying to nit pick, I was just attempting to add to the knowledge base on this subject. My area of expertise (not that I am saying that I am an expert, 'cause I'm not) is in fish nutrition, color enhancement being a large part of that field.

HTH

I wasn´t implying that colouring agents are responsible for the colour, just that I don´t think genetics are responsible. I also come from the aquaculture field and understand the complexities of fish nutrition. My observations are based on the fact that before feeding mussel meat in the past (same aquarium) that larger loaches just didn´t colour up even after longer periods (above six months). Whether it´s amino acids or some other nutritional factor like for instance important fats or vitamins otherwise missing in the diet, or because the fish feel happier due to a tendency to gluttony, is impossible to know without experiments being done... and no I´m not putting my hand up for this one either .

j<><

 

[justin guest]

I dont know much about mussel nutrition but one should remember, clown loach will show its maximum color only when it happy. Just make a good environment to make your CL happy.

Agreed. Good nitrition is an integral part of making cls happy though. Living in a luxury flat still sucks if the food tastes like s%?t

j<><

 

[RD.]

I guess it will remain a mystery, Justin.
I must be doing somethng right as I don't feed mussel, and my loaches are all very colorful, even the ones over 6".

 

[Heyitsduy42]

Here's my 10 incher. Color seems pretty good to me. I have a 7 incher that has less color than it.

Next to my 15"+ Endlie and 11" Indo Dat. Tank is 24" Wide.

 

[RD.]

Very nice color on that loach!

 

[justin guest]

I guess it will remain a mystery, Justin.
I must be doing somethng right as I don't feed mussel, and my loaches are all very colorful, even the ones over 6".

What do you feed your loaches?

j<><

 

[RD.]

The same thing that all of my fish eat, a commercial pellet food.