Crazy loach

[liftedjeep]

I have tried looking into this on the web but i have read everything from its completly normal to the fish is dying, which is not possible. I have had this clown loach for almost 2 years and he used to have a couple others in with him but unfortunately they picked on him non stop, they would not let him eat and he was wasting away. So i made the decision to keep just the little guy, and he sprung back quick even started clicking again while eating his favorite foods. My concern is that for roughly a month maybe longer, every morning he swims in a huge circle at the one end of the tank and he does this for hours (makes me tired watching him) at a time. He is in a 100 gal tank that recieves weekly water changes of 30% with plenty of filtration via a Rena xp4 and 2 fluval u4's, his tankmates consist of 8 rummynose, 6 german blue rams, 4 bosami rainbows and 2 satanoperca's that are only 4 inches. All the water tests are right on, temp is a steady 82f and every other fish is fine. The german blue's lay eggs on a weekly basis and the rummynose are bright red, its almost like he see's his reflection and thinks it is another loach so he just keeps trying to swim with it. I feel bad for him being alone, as i do know these fish are best in groups but that just wasn't working out and now i don't really have room to try a group again. I have read that yoyo loaches sometimes school with clowns would a few of those be a bad idea, i dont want them ganging up on him since he would be the odd man out. Thank you for any response

[Diana]

Completely normal for Loaches (many species, not just Clowns) to swim in that circle/figure 8/ up and down and around sort of pattern.

Yes, sometimes it happens that one Loach is the bottom of the rankings and gets picked on too much. Sounds like he is happier alone.

[liftedjeep]

Thank you, i feel a little better about him doing this then. I just have one other question, he just started as i was posting the last question but now he is flashing. I have only seen him do this twice and theres no way that the tank has ick since i have not added fish in months and at that time i did treat for ick with super ick cure by api. The tank also has a in line coralife uv sterilizer running 24/7, is there any other reason for the turning sideways and darting which i believe is flashing. Thanks again