Clown loach clicking

[convict360]

Just a small story, had a chance to take 3 small(ish) clown loach the other day, and jumped at it; given that they were healthy and well established. Usually I find that young clowns newly imported in are absolutely prone to whitespot; or inexplicable deaths from what im guessing are parasites or shock or some combination.

Anyway these guys have been in for a couple of days now, and I could hear them clicking loudly in my living room last night; which freaked my friend out who thought the tank was bursting haha. Haven't kept clowns for at least 5 years, so it brought back some memories; I'll try and get some pictures up tonight

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I've honestly never heard my 7 click...I'm sure they do...but my deaf self coupled with 3 loud HOB filtered tanks in the same room and I've never heard mine lol

 

[xraycer]

Mine does the clicking every now and then. The "play dead" always gets me.

 

[convict360]

Mine does the clicking every now and then. The "play dead" always gets me.

haha i'd nearly forgotten about that too...it was years and years back I started with a single clown loach; I didn't know any better about keeping them in shoals, so I had this one on his /herown with a different mish mash of fish alongside. (s)He was quite stocky, about 3-4 inches and im guessing female as the height from tom to bottom was plump.

Had it for about 2-3 years before dying suddenly, that was back when I rinsed my sponges in boiling water to "clean" them, among other stuff I cringe to think back on. The loach used to play dead in his cave, and click when fighting over algae wafers. True characters, and very slow growing...hopefully I'll be able to go a good few years with mine before upgrading down the line.

 

[xraycer]

Here's my "new" batch I've been growing out for over a year. Got them on sale for about $3 each, but they were only about 1.5" (4cm?). Most are now well over 3"

 

[convict360]

Here's my "new" batch I've been growing out for over a year. Got them on sale for about $3 each, but they were only about 1.5" (4cm?). Most are now well over 3"
View attachment 1152498

they look very healthy and beautiful! nice job!

 

[xraycer]

they look very healthy and beautiful! nice job!

Thank you! So, I bought this batch together and they were all the same size, but there's one runt in the batch that hardly grew at all. I had a similar situation in the past and the runt actually caught up during a growth spurt. Hopefully this one will do the same

 

[RD.]

The clicking sound comes from their jaw, which basically hyper extends and snaps back. Usually happens during a feeding frenzy. Without a doubt my favorite species of fish.

edited to add link

http://mummygaia.blogspot.co.uk/2014_09_27_archive.html

 

[Allan01230]

Most barbs will click like that as well as synodontis catfish

 

[jwh]

Without fail,feeding ocean nutrition sinking tropical wafers makes mine click like crazy