Clown loaches in Barebottom tanks?
- Thread starter Deaths Sting
- Start date
Soooooooooo.......... I had to move apartments recently because the one I originally moved into turned out to have a mold issue - so when I moved the 125g (w/ the loaches) I tossed them into the 75g (which was bare) until I moved and setup their 125g again.... My loaches TRIPPED because they are so used to the gravel - but it was kind of funny watching them chase their own reflections on the bottom of the tank... lol
On a side note: It did look kind of neat, for the first few hours. Crystal clear water with a mirror reflection on the bottom - but it does get (1) boring and (2) noticably dirty quickly
On a side note: It did look kind of neat, for the first few hours. Crystal clear water with a mirror reflection on the bottom - but it does get (1) boring and (2) noticably dirty quickly
If it was me I would still add some driftwood or rocks for hiding spots for each scenerio. At least with hiding spots u can have some aggressive tankmates with them. Also the hiding spots will reduce the stress and skittishness imo.
I vote for substrate, it's downside is sometimes leftover food and other detritus can become a problem if you don't clean it occasionally however its surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow on also if you do keep it clean which aids in overall stability of the tank. Also I simply prefer the look of a "natural" setting i.e. gravel bottom with some river rocks/driftwood. Also like it's been said multiple times, keep Clown Loaches in shoals of at least 3-5 if possible but the more the merrier. I had a single 9" CL that was best friends with my 15" Tigrinus just fyi
Substrate. My big clown actually likes to move pebbles with it's mouth. Kinda cool to hear it moving the pebbles around foraging for food.
The more natural te tank is, the better off they will be. Some kind of substrate that they can dig around in is a must. Smooth river pebbles or sand, or even a mix of both (not all at once, but part of the tank with one and .......you get the idea) Driftwood or anyplace that they can hide is also a must. However, anyplace that they can get wedged into should be avoided, like a castle turret. Personally I think that they look better with surroundings as natural as you can make them.
