weird dojo behavior (are they sick!!?)

[joitoy]

I may be panicking over nothing but the two new gold dojos have been acting funny tonight. One's face seems more pinkish than normal but maybe i'm just reading too much into it, or seeing sickness where it isnt present.

If this is a sign of sickness what do i have to buy to make them well?!


My spotted dojo is acting no more different than his usual lazy self but these two have spent an hour doing just this.
Last night they did this too, and it rained over night. Is this the rain warning dance? Is this typical dojo behavior, or is it flirting? I think the fatter one with the dark 'mask' over her face is a female, and the other a male, as her pectorals have a round tip and his are pointed.

taking a rest


acting frantic [at time of posting this one was still uploading, hopefully done by now]

[mistergreen]

Their other name is weather loach...
yes, they go bonkers sometimes due to the weather.

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/we ... licaudatus

woah, they can grow up to 12"

[joitoy]

This behavior carried into the morning, still at it, except both males do it too sometimes in one corner of the tank, then the female shoots over t lay on top of both. The tank's temp is much lower than what I had it at before, when they were only active to eat. Does this mean they now find the temp 'suitable' and are playing because they are happy?

Yes, they can get quite big, I've been thinking of returning all my fish but them for a while.. but I can't seem to let the pretty giant danio go despite their greediness during meals.

[joitoy]

I think they are mating... I've been reading what I can find through googling and the search function of the board.

I awakened this morning to find the male and female gold dojos racing together side by side, then darting together toward the surface of the tank, into the filter current. About halfway there they would tie into a 'knot' that looked like they were twisting together, then quickly dart back to the gravel to begin it again. I've set up a chair before the tank and witnessed this for about 2 hours, I can only wonder what to do with the little ones if I am right.

[shari2]

You may be right. Did you notice if the female was fat (filled with eggs)? If they did spawn I don't know if the fry will develop or get eaten by either the parents or other fish in the tank.

Let us know if you see any little ones.

[joitoy]

I noticed when I bought them that the one with the mask was much plumper than the two males. I thought it was just a sign of a good eater and healthy fish.

Today, she is now the same size as my male dojo and doesn't seem as much like an uncooked hotdog as she did at first.

If that was mating I saw, I'll let nature take its course. The tank isn't very well planted and is growing slowly enough that I don't think it will provide sufficient cover. If I should see some wigglers, is there any way to safely capture them to raise in another, safer tank? The eggs were laid right beside the filter intake, which is very strong, so I have no idea if its possible for them to survive inside of the filter.

[loachmom]

This is exciting, Joitoy. I hope you get some babies. I wonder if you could use a turkey baster to gently remove any you might see.

[Graeme Robson]

Good luck!!

[joitoy]

I am very excited. I'll start watching tomorrow and peering in the filter for moving things tomorrow. I have no idea what they should look like but hopefully something is there.