Koi trying to eat Clown Loaches!!!!!!!!!

[boldtogether]

Is this even possible? I know I should have this fish in a pond but it is so beautiful I keep it in the big tank inside. I have had it since it was an inch long and now it is 10". It started in the tank just to grow it out a little but now I think its one of my favorite fish. I never thought it would try and eat my Clowns! Time to move? Couldn't swallowing a loach kill the fish?

 

[boldtogether]

Anyone?

 

[Crazy mike]

How big is the tank?


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[almost_hurley]

Feed your fish more often.


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[Skittle]

Ya it could choke i would move it


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[strollo22]

Yea if a loach catches it with one of those barbs near it's mouth it could be pretty bad


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[cullens089]

it can choke it to death like strollo said, ive heard stories of those eye barbs choking fish when tryin to eat them and killin both fish in the process.

 

[boldtogether]

How big is the tank?

The tank is a 180g. The Koi is about 10" and the Loaches are around 2-3"


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it can choke it to death like strollo said, ive heard stories of those eye barbs choking fish when tryin to eat them and killin both fish in the process.

That is what I was thinking also. I didn't think a Koi would want to eat a smaller fish...I thought they were herbivores.
I have observed these Loaches to be extremely fast and they can probably escape predation, but what if right?
I guess its pond building time.
Thanks for the responses people!

 

[sandofarms]

Koi are OMNIVORES. They eat small fish.
My dad's kois ate a bunch of goldfish. Great meal. Not buddies.

Kois are to be considered the same way as any predator fish. If it fits in its mouth, it's food.
http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Koi


As to eating 2-3" clown loaches, my senegal and ornate bichir both had several clown loaches of that size. At that size, those barbs are just soft little twigs, and shouldn't cause any harm. My senegal and ornate are still kicking.

Clown loaches are NOT fast. Clown loaches are completely immobile at night when they sleep. Completely unconscious. Any lazy fish can catch them for a meal.