Is this normal Clown Loach behavior?

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we4wieners

Polypterus
MFK Member
Apr 21, 2010
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Atlantic City, N.J.
Moved my loaches from one tank to another. There are 4 of them around 3-4" each. They have, for the last year, had a large hollowed out rock that they hung out in. They were always flyin' around the tank and would rest in the fake rock. Now that I have moved them (with their rock) into their new 75g tank, I never see them. they never come out of the rock...at all. maybe at night when we're sleeping. But neer like they used to. Could they be dead inside the rock?? Or are they wussies and hiding? Aren't they gonna get hungry?
 
I dont want to go in and flip the rock. I'll keep checking my parameters just in case. Its been about a week now.
 
papawoody;4779431; said:
normal... clown loaches don't like being moved . keep the lights off for a while . it could take a while ....

+1

Clown Loaches get stressed pretty easy. You got to let them get used to the new surroundings. If you are worried about them not eating. Then cut off the lights and drop thier favorite food right in front of where they are hidding. My loaches never resist blood worms.
 
there probley just under stress. do u have some sort of dither fish in there aswell ? larger clowns can hide in a new enviorment if they feel insicure about it. if u dont have eneuff spots for them to dart in it would be like being in a warzone and standing in a feild for all the world to see. try feeding earley morning or just after lights out to make sure they get something to eat. but even then gotta remember they are bottom feeders so its likley there picking up leftovers from other fish.
 
The larger they are the more they get stressed out from being moved.
I had some 6" CL's take 3-4 weeks before I saw them come out & eat, even with a large shoal of CL's in the tank with them. (in a 125 gallon species tank)

Give them a few weeks and they'll come around.
 
I agree that they're stressed. Sometimes it will take a while to get them acclimated to the new surroundings. Just gotta be patient. They'll be out swimming again in no time.
 
They are starting to come out here and there. They'll be fine.
 
sounds like typical clown behavior ... that's why I keep yo-yo loaches now, they are always out and about ...
 
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