Clown loach food finding techniques.

[clownloachfan]

I noticed something interesting about my clowns some time ago. Sometimes they just thrust their noses into the gravel when looking for food. Other times they take each piece of gravel and move it seperately. This strikes me as odd and very amusing to watch. It makes them look more intelligent too. Which is great . Any opinions on this?

[Blue]

My loaches eat on my hand.

[Rocco]

yeah yeah, showoff!

I've noticed my loaches doing this too and it is amusing. My dad called them aquatic ostriches when he came to look at my tanks and saw a few of them head first in the gravel.

I've also seen them suck on snails as they swim around. Like a baby with a pacifier.

The funniest thing I've seen to this date is a kubotai, that is half the size of my clown loaches, stealing food from them.

My kubs are gluttonous.

The most fun to watch eat are the dojos though. My dojos come and take food from your hands. One even sucked on my girlfriend's finger when she tried hand-feeding them. Both she and the loach were quite surprised.

[tariesindanrie]

Clowns will take food from your hands if they're comfortable with you (and good and hungry)...just make sure your hands are clean before and after you put them in the tank. This means free of lotion or anything else, also. I've read accounts of people losing fish due to enthusiastic friends coming over and getting too many dirty hands in the tank

Kate

[Blue]

yeah yeah, showoff!

[Blue]

Clowns will take food from your hands if they're comfortable with you (and good and hungry)...just make sure your hands are clean before and after you put them in the tank. This means free of lotion or anything else, also. I've read accounts of people losing fish due to enthusiastic friends coming over and getting too many dirty hands in the tank

Kate

I'm aware of that. I never use lotions or anything else.

[bslindgren]

My biggest clown does exactly that. They seem to be able to move their head side-ways, and it looks hilarious when they move gravel out of the way. He/she also picks up algae wafers and swims around with it to get it out of the way from competition. My wife thinks I'm hilarious when I talk about the fish as if it's a person. But it does seem like these guys have personality, doesn't it. What's not ot love!

[shari2]

Yes, larger clowns will pick up gravel and toss it. sometimes you'll hear it hitting the glass.

you should see them bulldozing sand when on the hunt for snails. Furrows in the sand like a plowed field, plants uprooted, stuff everywhere, then they take off with the snail in their mouth followed by a gang of jealous smaller loaches.

[ckk125]

Lol

Well said..i always see my big clowns do that on a daily basis and i can be watching them doing that for hours.

Those giant ones can actually push rocks away and do their own aquascaping..

[MoonPye]

Yes, larger clowns will pick up gravel and toss it. sometimes you'll hear it hitting the glass.

you should see them bulldozing sand when on the hunt for snails. Furrows in the sand like a plowed field, plants uprooted, stuff everywhere, then they take off with the snail in their mouth followed by a gang of jealous smaller loaches.

Years ago I had a few koi in a big tank and they used to throw the gravel at the glass.

All this talk about clown loaches is making me very JEALOUS. I wish I had a tank big enough for 6+ of them! Now, to convince hubby..