Loaches, strong jaws and razor sharp teeth eats tank Silicon

[Vancmann]

About a year ago, I dropped one of the suction cups from a water heater into my tank. I did not want to remove it at that moment and I figured I would remove it during a waterchange or something. A few water changes after, I found it. The rubber was used as a chewing toy for some of the Small botias, possibly the Striada. The cup had nibbles and bite impressions all around it, some right through the edges, making little 1/2 shaped "U" cutaways. This is unbelievable and it is still happening though I just realize.
A few weeks it dawned on me, Duh, why a couple of my loaches were always making a loud click along the corners of my fish tank. It sounded much louder than usual and I was able to hear it from the living room, past the kitchen and in my bedroom with the door not shut but closed in mostly. Possibly louder because it was against the tank.
One day, after hearing the loud click, I decided to sneak up and observe closer. To my surprise, he made the click and wriggled to pull something out that was attached to the glass. After closer inspection of the area, WOW!!! I thought, I don't believe it. I noteced the bite marks on the silicone sealer on most edges of the tank. This in totally unheard of for me, a fish eating it's tank... Here are some pictures, I will have to get some videos if I can. They usually stop and swim away when I come by while they are doing this activity.


http://www.loachtank.com/displayimage.p ... =179&pos=0
http://www.loachtank.com/displayimage.p ... =179&pos=1
http://www.loachtank.com/displayimage.p ... =179&pos=2

[TammyLiz]

That...is almost unbelievable. I think I would have noticed that long before it got that bad, but never would I guess a fish would chew on it. I used to keep rodents and they always do that, but fish? Really? You're going to end up with all that water on your floor soon by the looks of it. What are you going to do? Do you have a tank to evacuate to so you can dry that one out to dig the silicone out and redo it?

[Vancmann]

Hi Tammy,
I will have to repair it some day, but I might be giving away my loaches and tank soon because I will be moving pretty far. As far as repairing the tank now, I am not too worried because most of the strength of the bond of the silicone is between the glass and they cannot get there (I hope LOL). I will have to visit the pet store to get something for them to chew on or just buy some snails. They have the tendency to want to bite on hard things to condition their teeth or beaks or whatever they have in their mothhs. I had purchaced a large snail, 1.5" in dia, about a month ago. They ate it and have been punching holes on the empty shell ever since. I just leave the shell in there.

[Vancmann]

[Vancmann]

[Emma Turner]

Mine also do this, but not quite to the extent that you are seeing! They always give you that mischievous look when they are doing it, like they know it is something they shouldn't be doing. When I see mine doing this, they put so much energy into each 'attack'....firstly backing off a couple of inches and having a sort of 'run up' and bite. The noise is loud, so I always know when one of them is biting the silicon.

Emma

[Vancmann]

They always give you that mischievous look when they are doing it, like they know it is something they shouldn't be doing. .

Emma

Isn't this interesting!? I thought it was just me but the look on the face of my big clown is priceless when I catch him. Not they are capable of making facial expression LMAO. Looks at me facing forward for a sec then bu bye into a cave. wouldn't even come to eat until after a bit.

[TammyLiz]

Apparently fish feel guilt.