Clown loaches: need advice

[888fish]

I have 8 clown loaches:
2x 3"
4x 4"
1x5"
1x6"

They live in a 170G with:

6" Tigrinus Catfish
9" Ansorgii Bichir
5" Delhezi Bichir
2x 2" Frontosa cichlid
1x 3" Electric Blue Dempsey cichlid


They are all feed sinking pellets and raw market shrimp. The tank has lots of medium to large drift wood and pots for hiding places decorated towards 2/3 of the tank. But the clown loach are always hiding!

Had all this group of fishes together for about 2.5 months. The larger 6 loaches were purchased privately and had lived together for a long time with the previous owner.

Question: How long are they going to remain so shy? What can I do?


Thanks,

JJ

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

You can make the pack stronger with more numbers, hence they will feel safer...

 

[ewurm]

You can make the pack stronger with more numbers, hence they will feel safer...

Also what I would recommend

 

[Muske]

Are they getting pick on?

Might need a little more time to adjust. I have heard of loaches taking a few months to come around. But, a few more friends will make they feel right at home.

 

[888fish]

No, they aren't getting picked on. They are always snuggled under the driftwood. I've thought about getting more loaches but want to watch the bio-load. Thanks.

 

[heavyhitter]

Might need a little more time to adjust. I have heard of loaches taking a few months to come around. But, a few more friends will make they feel right at home.

This is what I would say.
I have a group of 5 (was 7 but I lost two of them over the years ). I remeber when I bought them they were shy and one always hid in a log. After a few months they are VERY active, in fact they dont stop swimming unless they want to lay on thier side and sleep. These guys have been the most active fish in the tank for the last 5 years.

I think they feel comfortable when other fish are out and about swimming, if your others are inactive these guys will less inclined to go out in the open.

 

[Muske]

Wait a few weeks for the BB to balance out and try a few more loaches.

 

[888fish]

Good point about the other fishes being inactive. All of my fish hide except my delhezi bichir and small cichlids. Hopefully this will all change. Thanks.

 

[Muske]

Cichlids are pretty small so they will hide a little more. Fronts are like loaches. They prefer to be in a large group, or single. The EBJD I don't have any experience with, but any I've seen in LFS where hiding.

It seems you have enough room for some dithers. Larger barbs or rainbows may help the shy ones.

 

[888fish]

thanks for the advice. I have 3 other Zaire Frontosa growing out to add to the group in the large tank. I realize I do need some top to mid level swimming fishes.