My fiancee's clown loaches are swimming around on their side. Is this a normal behavior? Angelfish have been dying off mysteriously (3 of them, 2 of them were new so it could have been a bad batch.) Also, the clown loaches once went on their backs, and they do it in groups sometimes. Water params should be excellent, I change it 75% every 3-4 days, and it is a planted tank (no co2).
Clown Loaches
- Thread starter javey
- Start date
normal clown loach behavior...why do you think they call them "clowns" LOL
thou i would watch out for your angel fish deaths...
thou i would watch out for your angel fish deaths...
I would suggest not changing the water so often. Planted tanks dont need WC's as often. I do a 50% WC every other month in my 125gal. The only filtration I run is a cheap HOB filter, without media, simply for water movement. I say you're putty too much effort into the WC's.
That's normal loach (in general) behavior. My friend's clowns, tiger, striated, blue botias all do that. My yoyo's (only loaches I have) do the same thing.
That's normal loach (in general) behavior. My friend's clowns, tiger, striated, blue botias all do that. My yoyo's (only loaches I have) do the same thing.
I prefer about 35" every week or two for water changes but as stated by others the behavior is normal for clowns, especially if you have a group, when I first had some I was shocked one night to find them all lieing "dead" on the bottom. when I opened the tank they all swam away. They also play follow the leader and even do loop de loops.
javey;535514; said:
Although it's normal behaviour for them to lie down, if they are continually swimming on their sides, I'd be a little worried. Do they stop it and return to normal when you approach the tank and at feeding times?
If so, then they're probably just having fun!
Yeah they return to normal when I approach the tank. I think they are fine, I have been watching. Another angel died though 
....I think there's just too many fish in there.
....I think there's just too many fish in there.evercl92;535716; said:
I have to partly disagree with you. Even though the plants doesn't require so dense water changes the wellfare of the fishes should still be the number one priority. I do admit that 75% in every 3-4 days is quite a lot but as a fish without scales the clown loaches are quite sensitive to bad water conditions. I'd recommend something like 50% in once a week especially if the tank is quite full with fish like I understood from javey's last message.