shouldn't dojo loaches burrow

[joitoy]

I've read that they're a burrowing species, and on very good advice changed my gravel to sand months ago. Not once, since I've changed it, have I seen any of my four dojo loaches burrow beneath it. I see plenty of sand sifting through gills during meal times and foraging but that's about it.

Others show pictures of their loaches half submerged, or sticking only their heads up from the sand. I'm wondering if this means that they do not like or feel comfortable with the type that I am using? Strangely enough, before the switch and while I still had gravel, they were always trying to burrow in it and sometimes did succeed.

[Martin Thoene]

The one thing you learn about loaches as time passes is that they are predictably unpredictable. All sorts of factors affect how they behave and two seemingly identical setups can have different behaviour patterns.

My mother owned a cat that had 3 different personalities in the 3 different houses she lived in during her life. Some of my Clown loaches lived in England with me and they've been in two different locations and tanks in Canada. Their behaviour even changed with a lighting change, again when I added a big powerhead.

Martin.

[helen nightingale]

my yoyos stopped digging for snails when i changed to sand. Martin is right i think. the unpredictability is why i like them though. you can never say a loach is boring

[joitoy]

Phew, that's good to know. I was under the impression that digging meant happiness, and that mine weren't pleased. I see them play a bit in the currents of the water when I lower the water level during WC's, and they're always foraging, which is pretty entertaining too. They could do the backstroke on the surface for all I care as long as they're having fun and healthy when they do it.

[Tinman]

With my new sand and observations I would assume they do not need to dig as the food is on top now.

[Martin Thoene]

Once the sand matures though it will be full of microscopic life. You might well see them dig more at that time.

Martin.