Hey guys I'm back and I got a question!

[Pixelated_Pirate]

Hey everyone,

So I just got back from my trip to Africa two days ago. I had my brother look after my fish for the 3 weeks I was gone and.... THEY ALL LIVED =) Yay.

So yes, you may remember a while back I had a problem with rapid breathing... well two of the 3 clown loaches died by the one that survived is very healthy now... pretty fat, beautiful colours all that I could ask for. Althought he was a bit shy after putting him back in my main tank after transporting him out of the qtank. So 3 days before I left for Africa I bought a fake driftwood cave, it looked like a perfect loach hotel.

So now that I am back he is very active and amazing. I gues he liked his new hiding spot. He REALLY has to squeeze to get in there now cuase he is a little bigger then when I left. I went to the LFS because I missed all my fish and wanted to see what was happening in the fish world. I came across a clown the same size as mine but this one had 4 stripes... well 3 stripes and a huge dot. So I had to get it.

I thought it would be a good idea for my clown because all his friends had passed away before I left and he was all alone for about a month. When I introduced the new clown to the tank the old one kept chasing it and hasn't stopped since. At feeding time the new one tries to eat the food while the old one chases it and pecks at the new one while he is eating.

So my question is, does anyone know why my old clown mgiht be se agressive? The fish are the same size... the only thing I can think of is if my clown claimed the tank because he is the biggest fish in there next to the common plecostomus. Or maybe it's because the new clown has 4 stripes instead of 3?

My other question is, are they hurting each other or just playing? Cause the new loach just runs, he never defends himself or attack the other loach, he just runs. None of the frontal spike spines have come out yet, so I hope they are just playing. I've never seen behavior like this before?

It may be a stupid newbie question, so please if anyone has any insight please feel free to give your two cents. I will try to take and upload phtotos tomorrow but for now I gotta upload all my Africa photos off my camera. And I did get a new camera for my trip so my photos wont be dark and blurry! Yay!

Thanx in advance,

~ Jeffrey

[Emma Turner]

Hi Jeffry,

This sort of behaviour is common when only 2 loaches of the same species are kept together. Pairs are not usually a good idea, particularly if one of them is well established in the tank. Your best bet (if the tank is large enough) is to add at least another 3, then any aggression will be spread amongst the group. Making small changes to the decor will also help in breaking up established territories too.

Emma

[tattooedgemini]

yes definitely add a few more if space allows, even if they are tiny one inchers, it is better to have more so they can sort out their social positions and return to being happy...you could try to wait it out if you do not have adequate space for another loach, as i had this problem with my yoyo's and it seems to have calmed down somewhat, however it is still obvious from observing them that one is trying to control the other...it's just not as constant

[Tinman]

Yes they are quite correct, re-arrange your tank to subdue aggression till you get some more fish

[Pixelated_Pirate]

Sounds good... I guess moving thigns is my only option because I don't wanna over-stock... I like to keep it understocked always. I'll wait it out a few days, see if they calm down, if not... I'll do the old switcharoo.