I have a small group of (5) Clown Loaches. They all swim around together as a group. I'm wondering if there is an alpha loach? If I added another loach of equal or larger size, would they battle to see who's the strongest? They all seem like equals in the group. I've never witnessed any fighting among them....just curious.
RE: CL's-Is there an Alpha Loach?
- Thread starter balton777
- Start date
I would say that I have an alpha loach. She leads the pack at all times and all new loaches seem to accept that. They usually join the shoal within a couple of days. It doesn't seem very debated. She's the biggest, so she's the pack leader.
I see so maybe I have one and don't notice. Like I was saying, it's not a big deal but was thinking about and thought I'd ask. Thanks for sharing.
My clown loaches have an alpha. They follow it wherever it goes although they split as they go for their foods. It had engaged in a battle which lasted for an hour or two. By that time, their black stripes turned palest gray already and they eventually stopped and continued battling again for the following nights. There isn't really any damage except slight graze marks.
As for my Yasuhikotakia modesta, one of them suffered a mild damage on its caudal peduncle. It keeps grazing anyone and despite its injuries, it kept engaging two others to battle. It's not exactly the alpha. I believe it is just second in line as the alpha keeps overwhelming it. My Syncrossus helodes also have an alpha. The alpha just looks perfect in shape and color and is terribly nasty.
As for my Yasuhikotakia modesta, one of them suffered a mild damage on its caudal peduncle. It keeps grazing anyone and despite its injuries, it kept engaging two others to battle. It's not exactly the alpha. I believe it is just second in line as the alpha keeps overwhelming it. My Syncrossus helodes also have an alpha. The alpha just looks perfect in shape and color and is terribly nasty.
To have an Alpha in all of my Loach Tanks.
I have 6 Modestas in a 220, and I have 1 that is without a doubt the leader and more of a rogue, as opposed to the remaining 5 with shoal most of the times.
I have 7 Skunks in a 45 Breeder, and there is no doubt who is the leader.
I have a mixed tank of 10 YoYos and 4 Kubotai and the largest Yoyo, runs the pack, but never any aggression, just get out of her way come feeding time.
IMHO.......
Nuthman~
I have 6 Modestas in a 220, and I have 1 that is without a doubt the leader and more of a rogue, as opposed to the remaining 5 with shoal most of the times.
I have 7 Skunks in a 45 Breeder, and there is no doubt who is the leader.
I have a mixed tank of 10 YoYos and 4 Kubotai and the largest Yoyo, runs the pack, but never any aggression, just get out of her way come feeding time.
IMHO.......
Nuthman~
I've defiantly got an alpha; I also got another cl just a bit smaller then my big boy and they, as stated above, fought for a few hours with white bars.
I've noticed this with my smaller similar sized ones as well.
I have 6 cl's ..
I've noticed this with my smaller similar sized ones as well.
I have 6 cl's ..