Loaches Online Forum

Let me first say hello to the forum you folks are an awesome resource of knowledge.

I also wanted to say that I'm relatively new to owning clown loaches and frankly just stumbled on to the species while at my local Fish store. I've since really gotten interested and have been learning as much as I can. I'm so impressed with the personality that each one has and how social they are. This is kind of the basis of my question.

After acquiring my first clown (Zippy) I learned alot more about clowns and that he needed a few friends to really be happy. I've since acquired another (Zefron) and plan on adding more over the next few weeks. Whats got me going is the change in the tank since getting Zefron. He's the bigger fish and therefor Zippy seems to follow his lead. Zefron while looks happy and healthy is a lazy loach. When alone zippy would always be swimming, playing with the other fish and just generally interested in everything that was going on in the tank at all times (hence the name). Zefon seems content to lay on his side and sunbathe for sometimes as long as 6 hours. Zippy for the most part does what Zefron does so I have two loaches that will lay around all day either in the open or hiding somewhere.

I know clowns are more active in the evening but the difference in the tank is striking. I wanted to get someone else's take on the change and see if there might be something I'm overlooking.

Thanks to everyone for all there shared knowledge it's been invaluable

Hi slick666, welcome to Loaches Online.

You definitely need to go ahead with your plan to add more. Two clowns will not display the natural behaviour seen in a large social colony. Provided that they are in good health, do not worry if they lay on their sides, it simply means that they are happy and relaxed in their surroundings. Adding more to the group will make them all more outgoing though (make sure you quarantine new purchases before adding them to the main tank). Once you've upped the numbers, think about adding a blue moon light to the tank so that you can view their antics during the late evening.

Emma

Well Emma thanks for your advice but I'm afraid that after 3 weeks Zefrum suddenly passed away. I'm pretty good at keeping one loach but this is the second one I've purchased that hasn't made it. I'm afraid that there might be a few more things I'm overlooking in the tank.

What I haven't figured out is why the first loach is doing so well and the others haven't made it.

Quarantining all new fish for 4 weeks would be step 1.

Step 2 would be to know the water parameters better and to monitor those water parameters constantly.

The most important parameters to know are nitrates, kH, gH, and TDS.

You need to know those parameters for the source water, the aquarium water, and the water from where you are buying fish at.

New fish may have a very hard time acclimating to different water parameters when you 1st get them. So it's very important when you get new fish that the water parameters match.

Quarantining new fish should not be taken lightly either.