Loaches Online Forum

Has this happened to anyone else?

Last night I heard clicking noises and I figured that the loaches were very happy for the cucumber. But this noise was louder than any other clicking noise I have heard. So I took a closer look and I noticed the loaches were picking at the spoon that the cucumber was being held to the bottom with. I couldn't believe it. I pulled out the spoon this morning and took a closeup picture. Has this happened to anyone else?

I wouldn't think the loaches have enough jaw strength to pierce or bend a stainless steel spoon. This spoon was smooth last night before I put it in the tank. I saw all three of my larger loaches eating cucumber then they started picking at the spoon.

You have got some mean loaches there.

wow. Maybe they need stanless stll in their diet. Or it's like crack to them.

they didn't do this until the blue moon light was on. during the day, they didn't do this at all. and only the bigger loaches did it. the largest did it the most. they seemed quite happy with the cucumber. maybe they were trying to get me to give them more! i am wondering if the reflection of the blue moon light on the metal has anything to do with it?

i doubt they're eating it... Do you see little chunks of metal around? Maybe it's done just for the sound? Since clicking is part of their communication.

i didn't see any pieces. i will look closer tonight. but what would explain the chunks taken out of the spoon? lol...i wouldn't think they were eating it just probably playing with it. the noises sounded similar to their clicking but much much louder!

he's going for distance communication with the volume.

I placed a new spoon in today. I am tyring to see if this happens again. I cannot believe that the loaches could do that to a spoon. Hopefully it was a prior spoon injury I just can't remember it having that on it. So now a brand new smooth spoon has been used. I am going to keep an eye on them at like 3am tonght to see if they do it again. right now they are wired and all over the tank.

LoachOrgy wrote: I cannot believe that the loaches could do that to a spoon. Hopefully it was a prior spoon injury I just can't remember it having that on it.

This is more likely! I don't think that any part of a loach can take chunks off stainless steel spoons.

This is more likely! I don't think that any part of a loach can take chunks off stainless steel spoons.

Not unless he happened on the extremely rare Botia anglegrinderensis

Martin.

Nah, wouldn't that be the Chromo-Botia anglegrinderensis?

lol!

i burreied the end of the spoon for an anchor last night and forgot. i will put a new spoon in tonight again and try to test this. the loaches were clicking like crazy last night. i think they are extra happy!

What news of the spoons?

well i didn't get a chance to check yet. but i have been staying up all weekend trying to catch them doing it to the spoon but they havn't been biting at the spoon for the past two days. the spoon is a slightly different shape but i wouldn't see why that would stop them from playing with it.

Try using the same spoon in a day or two. Give them a rest to get their veggie craving back up. Take a before and after pic of the spoon. Maybe only that one tastes good...

then, when you take the spoon out look around for shiny bits they might have spit out. If you don't find any, feed them all some castor oil...! <JK>