Clown Loaches + Water Popping (Not the clicking when eating)

[KRUNNCH540]

So as of recently my clown loaches have started to go to the top of my tank and make this really really loud popping noise. While at the same time they are making bubbles when they do it. When one does it, generally the big one starts it first, he being 7" or so, the other 2 follow suit. Now I know the noise they make when eating - like a dull clicking, which I've heard. This is different.

I checked the water parameters (PH, Ni, Na, Am) and nothing has changed since I've owned them (going on 5 years now). Temperature is around 80F and I change the water frequently. What is odd is when the light is off - they 'generally' do not do it, but when the light is on, they do it. Keep in mind the light is only 25W on a 75G tank w/ a 30G sump. I have also noticed when I drop some bottom feeding food, 5-6 large size sinking pellets (by Tetramin), they stop doing it.

Do you think it is because they are hungry? It would seem that no matter how much I feed these loaches, they just keep eating.

Stocking is 1 big loach, 2 medium loaches, 7 tiger barbs (.75") and a blue phantom pleco (who never leaves the driftwood).

Thanks for any help you can give.
-Kris

 

[Andyroo]

Mine make these glass-cracking (sounds like) clicks when they are fighting for dominance- scares the heck out of me.

Sounds like your are just trying to be annoying... count yourself lucky. At least they're not shredding the silicone in the tank corners or dismantling your filter intakes... or vacuuming the eyes out of your pleco. Idle hands do the devil's work etc....
They play- this is the game for this week. They'll get bored eventually and move on to the next game.
Add a bunch of MTS or other snails. The activity of snail-hunting may take their interest in this singing: change the game. Can also put in PVC or bamboo habitats, or add live worms that will dig in the substrate. I've even heard of people using/sinking ping-pong balls, same as they do for aba or bottlenose fish.

And get a couple more clowns- minimum school size should be 4. Little ones should be fine, if not better as they won't upset the dominance balance.
A

 

[KRUNNCH540]

I like the snail idea - I once upon a time had snails in my tank and a few days later - all I saw were empty shells (clown loach frenzy). Those snails were by accident, do you know which kind of snails from petsmart/petco I should get? I've read online that there are mystery snails, wild snails, etc. Does the kind matter? I don't want to bring in diseases if all possible. Would be kind of hard to quarantine snails like fish.

 

[CAaddict]

i think the smaller the better... MTS are smallish.. they bury them selfs in the subtrate too....... could be a long winded game for the clowns ?

 

[Andyroo]

you're looking for fish-entertainment. MTS are cheap & easy and prolific and live under the gravel, so would be the best for this. They're also tougher than other species, so take longer for the fish to get into and will last longer in the tank-ecosystem.
Option #2 might be mystery, though they're more costly. Loaches essentially harass them to death.... a bit cruel.
Same for Nerites, though they are better protected so tend to survive until the loaches lose interest.
And add another loach(es) and tweak the habitat. Maybe a Koralia or other powerhead to get the water moving- current is very popular.
A

 

[KRUNNCH540]

I should have mentioned - the return is a Mag 9 and I do have one circulation pump in the back right corner, directing water diagonally across the tank. I think it is a Tunze 6025 w/ the modification to the front to allow more flow. I have been in the market for clown loaches, but I am very hesitant to rush into it. One of my local stores stopped carrying big ones and when they did - they always had ich. Another store has 1" ones, but I have always had back luck with the really small ones. Another store has 2 in the back, but won't sell them b/c the owner likes them...odd. I really do want more clowns, but it is just a matter of finding the right ones. Their behavior, albeit odd, is what I love most about them.

In any case - I'm actually 85% complete with the build of my 150 gallon wall partition tank. Painting the stand and I am about to buy glass-holes overflow boxes. The return on that tank will be dual Mag 12s and all of the 75G fish will be put into it. No more 75G tank - the stand on the 75G is too hard to work in (cramped).