Clown Loach feeding/acclimatization advice

[terminalsump]

I recently took the plunge and two weeks ago I got four clown 2.5" loaches each 2.5" long. They not skinny but not fat either.... They're currently in a 160L (40g) community planted tank with three good hiding caves for them. My PH is high (8) and the water hard, but is the same as my LFS. Levels are fine with weekly water changes.

I'm a bit concerned as I've not really seen the loaches, day or night. They don't seem to be eating much, at least not when I'm around. They just hide...

I've tried pellets and bloodworm most evenings, just before lights out, which the community devours quickly from the gravel (my danios are greedy and now FAT!). One of the loaches has ventured our to eat,once, the others remain hidden. I've tried live bloodworm - there was quite a few left worms left 30 minutes after the community have finished feeding, which were gone a few hours later, so i only hope the loaches were the ones finishing off the worms.

Slightly cooked cucumber seems untouched, but its hard to tell. And the pellets, i'm not sure. I'm having to keep an eye on my levels as overfeeding is a concern at the moment...

Suggestions on getting them out and feeding ?

I have considered lowering the PH/hardness gradually (RO unit ready to go), or moving them to their own tank (thats the long term plan as they grow). At the moment I would like to give them a few weeks to see if the situation improves.

Tim

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160L (40g) | PH 8.0 | Hard water | 4 Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | 6 Zebra Danios | 2 Pearl Gourami (Juvenile) | 2 Rams | 2 Cory's | 4 Clown Loaches

[poeticpyro]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!


i hope that you quarantined them...

the not coming out is normal. mine did it for about a month. if you have multiple caves (opposite sides of the tank) it helps. they are more nocturnal until they get more comfortable. they're probably eating. just because you don't see them eating doesn't mean they're not. they might not be getting blood worms, but they're probably getting pellets. one of mine usually grabs a couple of pellets in its mouth and swims into the cave with them. very cute, and i hardly see him eat infront of me. keep an eye on them, as you know they're prone to ich and they "stress" easily. hope you're getting a larger tank soon. they can grow to be about 12-14 inches!!

[terminalsump]

Thanks. It was nice to find such a good resource on the web

I've not quarantined them - Must admit i've thought about it before. I should before I, or worse, my fish end up with a problem

Regarding habits and feeding, that's good to know. I will keep an eye on them and leave them alone to settle in over the next few weeks. Any idea on the number of pellets small catfish they are likely to consume pd ? I'm paranoid about polluting the tank - am watching the levels carefully...

The plan is for a 300L (75g) in the next six months, once a house purchase/move has completed ! BTW, having fish is a really good negotiation point when buying a house - allows you to be really firm with your completion/moving date as temporary accommodation is not an option

Tim

[poeticpyro]

ok.

eventually your clowns will outgrow the 75gallon tank. they need probably around 90gallons or more if possible. i know that they're not cheap (tanks that is), but buy the biggest that you can afford. (hence why i'm getting 180gallons). um.. i'm not sure about how many they eat. just feed them like you normally would. fish (if healthy) can live easily a week without food, so i'm sure your little guys are finding food somewhere. plus if the tank is established they can find little bacteria and all of that to eat. mine eat snails/snail eggs that come in on plants... that was their entire dinner last night. don't be too worried, i know it's hard, TRUST ME i was saying the same things and freaking out too, i think it's normal. but hey, it means that you care about your little babies!! odd #'s for clowns are better (don't ask me why, they just get along better) i have 4 and they've paired off. when i had three they were always together. and i'm sure you know the more clowns the merrier they are. good luck. keep an eye out for illness.. clowns are the kings of ich, but i have a good treatment that'll work (thanks to emma and everyone on these forums!). it's a good forum, people aren't too opinionated and they're very knowledgeable.

[TammyLiz]

Theres not much difference between a 75 gallon and a 90 gallon tank. The loaches wouldn't really notice the difference since the footprint is exactly the same. The only difference is a few inches of extra depth in a 90. I would personally not hesitate to put 4 clowns in a 75 gallon tank. They'll certainly be more comfortable in a 6 foot tank once they fully grow out, but that 90 gallon tank isn't going to give you that, either, as it's still 4 feet.

I don't think loaches are small enough to be able to see and eat bacteria! If they do then the jokes on me. But yes, they will probably come out to eat soon, once they get adjusted. The smell of bloodworms will probably be too much for them once they get hungry enough.

[NancyD]

You might try feeding a small amt. of sinking food after "lights out" since clowns are noctural by nature until they get used to your routine.
Nancy

[terminalsump]

Thanks for the advice. The good news is that in the last couple of days i've seen lots of my loaches by feeding in the morning before lights on, but with some daylight in the room - so low light. They go nuts for the bloodworm i've been feeding - now the oposite is happening and the rest of the community don't get much of an oppourtinity with the clowns going crazy over the bloodworm...

The bad news is that now i've had the chance to see my loaches, i've notice early signs of whitespot and started treating for this with protozin and the temp raised to 28c, 82F. The danio's don't seem to like the high tempreture and have started jumping - i've had to resuce one from the filter compartment - a very difficult job to get him out. Since the treament started, my pair of rams clours have intensified and the male has become very active, chasing and displaying to the female. Currently everyone looks to be coping well, so i'm hopinh to beat this without any loses.

I've now gone and invested in a Quarentine tank - lesson learnt !

[poeticpyro]

it is possible though to get an extra deep 90 gallon... like a wider one. that's better than a 75 i know that the demensions are the same, i should have been more specific. mine are going to enjoy their 180gallon home once i can get everything situated or i might put them in the 125 since it's upstairs and i'd enjoy them more... best of luck... they're probably eating without you noticing... fish can go a week without food, sad, but true... they just may look really nasty after that week so don't do it, but... and remember that there are always small particles in the water of food that the loaches love to graze on... you can also see that one of my loaches is in love with algae... so.. you never know!!