Feeding big clowns

[Wet Whiskers]

That loach is obese, so I certainly wouldn't be concerened about it not eating for a while.

Yup. I think he's got some nice reserves to lose. As far as I know anything about 8.5" is fairly rare anywhere in the hobby.

 

[goestonemoa]

sweet find

 

[cypher1024]

Thank you all for the replies.

I've tried mussels a few times now and all of the smaller clowns go nuts, but I still haven't had any success with the big ones. I strongly suspect they're coming out late at night to munch on the pleco's food because they both still have very decent bellies.

I've also added a big 'cave' in the hopes that it will make them more comfortable since they couldn't easily fit into any of the other loach housing. Basically just a big rectangular flower trough that I've flipped over and cut entrances into. They seem to like it becuase now they hide in it 90% of the time

 

[key]

big loaches Im trying to get mine that big..

 

[Wet Whiskers]

Thank you all for the replies.

I've tried mussels a few times now and all of the smaller clowns go nuts, but I still haven't had any success with the big ones. I strongly suspect they're coming out late at night to munch on the pleco's food because they both still have very decent bellies.

I've also added a big 'cave' in the hopes that it will make them more comfortable since they couldn't easily fit into any of the other loach housing. Basically just a big rectangular flower trough that I've flipped over and cut entrances into. They seem to like it becuase now they hide in it 90% of the time

Maybe try feeding with the lights very dim, and see if they come out. Maybe over time you can get the lights brighter and brighter during their feeding time until they're totally used to you.

 

[felixxx]

any news on the monsters?

 

[aclockworkorange]

Those are AWESOME clowns!

A cheap thing i've found that my clowns love are some big PVC pipe connectors... come in all sorts of different shapes at the hardware store. Probably need some big 4" for those guys!

 

[cypher1024]

Maybe try feeding with the lights very dim, and see if they come out. Maybe over time you can get the lights brighter and brighter during their feeding time until they're totally used to you.

I'll give it a go. Knowing clowns, it will probably just make all of the smaller ones refuse to eat with the lights on

any news on the monsters?

Still no daylight/feeding sightings unfortunately. They just spend all day in their tunnel, with one lying on top of the other. My 6" clown and ghost knife have moved in with them too.

It's only been two weeks, so by most accounts, I'm going to have to wait another week or two before they venture out during the day.

If they're not out in a week, I am very tempted to set up a time-lapse rig to see if they are coming out at night and munching on the plec's vegetables.

Those are AWESOME clowns!
A cheap thing i've found that my clowns love are some big PVC pipe connectors... come in all sorts of different shapes at the hardware store. Probably need some big 4" for those guys!

Thanks. I've put in a 'tunnel' thing I made for the plec, but I pulled it out because he never went in there. The clowns wont come out of it though!

 

[JakeH]

I have to leave veggies for my kubotai overnight. They cant/wont compete with the CL's during daylight, but they will devour a slice of cucumber overnight. I use one of those suction cup veggie clips from the LFS, attached to the glass up near the surface. I would bet your guys are VERY active at night!

 

[cypher1024]

I would bet your guys are VERY active at night!

Yeah they probably are, if for no other reason than to spite me.
They spend all day in their tunnel, trying to perfect their impression of the letter T:

Sorry for the poor quality - it's REALLY dark in their tunnel, and they were moving around a bunch, so I had to sacrifice some quality in order to get a semi-decent shot of them.

Here's one with my 6" guy poking his head around the corner to see what is going on: