Loaches Online Forum

My helodes really got stirred up this afternoon so I grabbed my camera as the stir ensued. The Alpha had a go at the crowd and is disgusted with the beta to put human emotion where it does not belong and clicks loud enough to hear over my pumps at the 1:11 mark after chasing it home at the 1:16. Very honery today after I said they slept lots yesterday More intresting behavior to show I thought.

Wow! That's some action. Very cool.

very cool.

i saw maybe 12 of those the other day in one of my lfs. They were 5 inches long each and in maybe an 8 gallon holding tank. They were actually not killing each other as i would've expected, but still were quite active and fun to watch.

Nice video and nice action .. always wanted to see some large helodes 'family" like yours. Definitely a different league compared to clowns.
One question, are there enough pipes for all of them to hide?

-Connor

Great to see such pronounced "alpha loach" action.

One question, are there enough pipes for all of them to hide?

Well maybe, they are still new and under observation. When all are putting on weight and the skinnier ones have filled out more hidey holes will be added. I think they all can hide now actually anyway. I have seen as few as seven out at one time with the others hidden from view. They are quite comfortable this way and very inquisitive .Most of the time never hiding from me but coming out and begging for food mostly as I enter the room.
I will put wood in this tank once I am comfortable with the fish all being healthy.With this many I must catch any issues immediatley to avoid a catastrophe imo hence this bare set up for the time being.

Great to see such pronounced "alpha loach" action.

The first few days no one was allowed in the pipe with this alpha, now several pile in the pipe from behind as this one calms,but not when in the mood shown in this vid....

That was like the movie "The Sixth Sense". I had to watch it twice.

They sure do back off, don't they?

My first loach ever (still not sure exactly what it was) was keeping a tank full of modestas all clinging to the corners of a 10g store tank while he cruised the center, all alone. Nobody challenged his space. Exhausting to watch.

Superb!!

That is one bossy fish.

You have done a wonderful job on them


Ashleigh

great video Tinman, the youngster were only keeping out of biting distance and then charging back in, it reminded of a programme on telly about great white sharks and the seals doing exactly what the young helodes are doing.
god help you mate when they get bigger.

mick

Great video Tinman , that bigun wasnt giving an inch ha ha .

this is my tank and these are my pipes. you lot arent sharing


wonderfull, Tinman, you are making me very envious