Clown Loach Social Behaviour Question

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holidayinn

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 11, 2008
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London
Do Clown Loaches lose their sociability as they grow older?

I have a number of CL between 3" and 7". The three inches are always out and about, but the ones closer to 7" spend most of their time hiding. Will this be an increasing trend?

Any advice appreciated, thanks.
 
Mine haven't reached that size yet, but I have heard they can start to feel like outcasts if they are significantly smaller or larger than the others. If not, maybe they need more hiding spots or a bigger tank? I know those are generic answers, but hopefully ewurm or Lupin will stop by and drop some wisdom on ya.
 
they dont become less outgoing with age or size. in fact they in my tank and with friends i see the opposite. the larger ones dont really seem to feel the need to hide much as they have nothing to fear.
they also do not seem to become less social, mine are always together and so are those of a friend. but must add we mostly have larger botias.
 
Mine schooled no matter how big or small. No loach left behind!
 
I have read that in the wild when they reach adult size they do become more solitary. I have fish up to 9" that still engage in shoaling behavior.
 
I had 4 clown loaches that always schooled together, but as they got bigger they did start hiding more . . . basically, once they reached about 6" each I almost never saw them again

I traded them to the LFS for nice $$, and now I keep yo-yo loaches . . . not only do yo-yos not get quite so big as clowns, but they are more sociable, always out and about . . . in my experience, of course
 
The 7inchers (pigs with wings lol) are constantly hiding, they were purchased after the group of 3-6inchers, so maybe they're still adjusting. But I have heard they prefer a more solitary life as they get older. The big-uns came with the tank I bought recently, they hid so well, never even knew they were in there until we emptied the tank!!!
 
my larger Cl's 8" plus seem to be hiding a little more than than smaller 5-6" size.The larger ones also seem to be more territoral. Might be the tank set up ??? I have quite a few driftwood piles , lots of hidey holes....

However when it's feeding time it's every CL for itself, everybody is out....:nilly:
 
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