Loaches Online Forum

Hi all!
I have two Clown loaches who have survived various moves and other upheavals with no problem, and always been very active. They are now 10 years old and 5 -6 inches. They have become very nocturnal hiding under a log, and I rarely see them apart from at dusk or dawn (and with blue moonlight). When I do see them they seem prefectly healthy and happy.
They are in a 4' foot tank with a few boesemani rainbows. If I was to add 2 or 3 more young clowns loaches would that encourage the "old" guys to come out more and be their old clown selves? Or is this an age thing?
I want to start adding some new stock to this tank, so I guess my question really is whether or not to add more Loaches (clowns or other?), or just leave these guys to themselves, and add other compatible fish instead?
Any ideas/opinions would be appreciated!
I should add that the 4' tank is to become a 6' within the next six months!

My loaches are ~7 years old and all except one are out all the time. I don't have lights on the tank. I also have no dithers, no other fish other than loaches in that tank.

They just don't seem to like light hence the dawn/dusk thing you've noticed.

So thats good to know about the dawn/dusk thing - thankyou!
Would these "old" clowns be upset if 2 or 3 new young clowns joined them? These guys have been a pair for 10 years now. Or would I be better off getting other compatible fish? Sorry to sound so naive about it all - just want to do whatever is as right as possible! And re stock my tank...!

If anything, it would encourage them to come out more, especially to compete with the small ones for food. When I added my small clowns to the big ones, the big ones didn't mind them at all but the small ones were wary of the big clowns for a little while.