Loaches Online Forum

For the benefit of anyone who has ever doubted that 5 clowns should be the absolute minimum, I offer the following feedback- the most I had ever had at one time, prior to a few weeks back, were 3. Now this seemed to be a fine number- nobody fought, all seemed well, until one of them succumbed to CWS. After he died, the remaining two battled continuously...and I decided to make up for the loss with another baby. After he was introduced, the fighting between the bigger loaches stopped, and all was back to normal.

As it turned out, since I'd moved the neons and lone rasbora out to another tank, I had room for a couple more clowns that stole my heart at the LFS. They are now out of QT, and swimming with their new family in the big tank with the 3 other CLs, few blackskirt tetras and glasscats- and of course, my monster pleco, Ralph, who before now was pretty much king of the tank. Not so anymore!

The 2 large (3-1/2") and 3 small (about 1 to 1-1/2") are getting along famously. They are all over the tank- either all together or in smaller packs. Even the larger, established ones are eating better and more often. And Ralph the pleco is on his last good nerve, in a good-natured way. He was reluctantly sharing his zucchini with 2 babies this afternoon, alternately flexing his sailfin and shaking his tail- to no avail. They ain't skeered, so he's got to get used to it!

Sorry this is so long- in closing, I'll just state that the general feeling of well-being I get from the clowns since their little pack increased, has gained about 1,000 smileys!

Kate

I feel your happiness!

You must try and take some pics when you get a chance,

Emma

Thanks, Emma!

Just had the weirdest encounter. Right after I posted this, I logged out with the intent to go out get the days mail- walking by the tank there was a terrible fuss going on- Ralph had taken a tantrum and was just violently shaking his whole body, gravel flying, clowns fleeing for their caves...as soon as he saw me at the glass, he stopped and glided over to the front, resting on his pelvic fins at an angle so as to look me straight in the eye, for a solid ten seconds. I think the clear message was 'get me the hell out of here'....he then retreated to his cave.

I don't know how many people would believe that kind of thing, but he certainly communicated how he feels about the new situation!

Kate

I have similar experience with my kubotais. One of the four I had died when I had a temperature spike after putting a powerhead in the tank. Before this, the four of them would do a lot of posturing and circling around, but almost never any serious fighting or chasing. Now I have one of them always chasing one of the others. I am desperate to find a few more, but my LFS seems to be buying from dealers that never have any Botias (or they get clown loaches). It is very frustrating. I'm heading to Vancouver in late October, so I hope that I can get replacements then.

bslindgren wrote:I have similar experience with my kubotais. One of the four I had died when I had a temperature spike after putting a powerhead in the tank. Before this, the four of them would do a lot of posturing and circling around, but almost never any serious fighting or chasing. Now I have one of them always chasing one of the others. I am desperate to find a few more, but my LFS seems to be buying from dealers that never have any Botias (or they get clown loaches). It is very frustrating. I'm heading to Vancouver in late October, so I hope that I can get replacements then.

Sorry for your losses . Have you tried asking your LFS if they can order some kubs for you? Mine would only have clowns stocked also if I didn't ask for something different once in a while (he promises me some sids...soon. Might be worth asking yours.

Kate

thanks for the kind words to a fellow CDN in the great white north.
If bslindgren is in the same situation as I am (8 hours away from major urban centres) indeed he cannot get anything close to exotic unless he travels.
So travel we must...everytime "I go a wandering" I try to came back with new loaches if I find any.

I tend to forget just how large your country is and how remote some of you Canucks truly are up there. And to think that I complain about my lack of convenience where I am! Thanks Newshound

Kate

tariesindanrie wrote:
I don't know how many people would believe that kind of thing, but he certainly communicated how he feels about the new situation!

Kate

Hi Kate,

I talked once to a lady about her relationship to her fish, and was surprised with her natural and firm tone, saying "if I did not have a good relation with my animals - It would be the wrong hobby!"

I am convinced loaches/fish are kind of building a relation to you. We talk about right temperature, waterconditions a lot... but I am sure, attention and warmth is also a substantial factor for their well beeing. They may be missing nature, the atmosphere of the wilderness - their keepers may need to kind of substitute this with personal attention. Attention is absorbed and reflected. I go with a smile every time I´ve watched my little buddys. I sometimes have the feeling those little guys look straight into my heart (like many animals can) even fish sense you. I´ve learned to "talk" to them just by reading them - like you did.

I also noticed that my loaches are not scared of noise or quick movements from my kids - rather more me being quired behind the camera - like sneeking up on them - they seem to sense what may be dangerous and what is not.

I´m quite buffeld, how sensetive animals can be, perhaps its just us who forgot about "reading" the language of nature...

Thanks, Wolfram. It's nice to know I am not alone in my kinship with the critters

Kate