Clown Loach Not Coming Out!!!

[saugata]

Hi! All,

Need some help from you guys.

I am having a little problem with my 3 clown Loaches. I have introduced 3 small clown loaches into my 4.5' heavily planted tank on 15/06/06. These jokers don't come out at all. The first day when i put them, the smallest one came out after some time & was doing all sorts of antiques in the front area of the tank. But after that day they are not at all coming out. You can see them only after lights out and that too very occasionally. Is there anything which I am doing wrong or can I do something which will make them feel comfortable and they will start coming out of their hiding place? Moreover, is this the common habbit of clown loaches and they will settle down in due course of time.

The other fishes seems to do quite well.
My tank details:

Size : 4.5'x2'x20"
Lights - 208 watts of PL @ 12 hrs/day
Ferts: Weekly twice KNO3 & KH2PO4
NH3:NIL
NO2:NIL
W/C: 30% - weekly
Fauna:Platys, N. Tetras, American Flag Fish, Albino Cories, P.Denisonii, Cherry Barbs, Mollys, Madagascar Rainbows & of course 3 nos. of Clown Loaches
Flora: Heavily Planted
CO2: Presurised CO2 injected 24x7
Temp: 28-30 degrees C
Age of Tank: 2 months

Regards,

Saugata

[Gary Herring]

I have never kept clowns myself so can't really offer much help, but given that they've only been in the tank a week, I think this is probably completely normal and you just need to give them time to acclimatise to their new home.

However, having said that I think clowns are crepuscular (active at dusk) and would probably benefit from more subtle lighting. In fact a while ago I remember Emma recommending to somebody a moonlight style tube timed to switch on an hour or so before the main lights go on and an hour after they go off, so this may help.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge than me can add more, but hope this helps in the meantime.

[Emma Turner]

Hi saugata,

Yes, Gary is correct. Clowns prefer subdued lighting, something which obviously doesn't suit a heavily planted aquarium. They also like high oxygen levels and a good amount of strong flow in the tank (again, not ideal for plants).

You will find that your Clowns are a lot more active after lights out. Adding a blue moon light to your tank will help them to feel more secure and you are likely to see more of them. Have it come on a short while before the main lights go off, and leave it on for a couple of hours so you can observe them.

Clowns are also very social, and I'd tend to recommend at least 5 in an aquarium together.

Emma