Loachy Dancing

[starsplitter7]

Last night was my dreaded heater adding night. I hate doing this. I always worry that the heaters will malfunction. I breath a sigh of reliefe when I pull the heaters out in spring.

Normally my tanks are about 82 degrees. When I put the heaters in, the temps had dropped to 76-78. I went to bed at 4 AM, after hours of scary monitoring of the fishtanks. My fry tank shot up to 84 degrees with no signs of the heater turning off. My 29 gallon was still too cool. So I switched those heaters. Now all my tanks are about 78-80 degrees. The loaches in my 29 gallon have joined my Cories in dancing along the glass. They have been doing this all morning. Now my greatest surprise was catching my horsehead loach joining in the dance. Normally he is under the sand and out of view. Somtimes you catch a peek of eyes watching you. This morning he's out doing his loachy dance. Amazing!

So a little cooldown has everyone a bit frisky.

[Crissyloach]

I have noticed that my loaches did that for 3 days after I did a water chage. My plecos were out with them. I guess the temperature was a bit different because I added water that was a little cooler (2 degrees) than the tank temp. The tank ended up being 78'F.

One of the albino BN plecos has claimed a hole in a dolphin tank ornament. It is funny to watch him squish himself into it.

It is interesting to watch the fish do this.

[starsplitter7]

I know cooler water can cause spawning for some fish. These guys were pretty frisky. I can't believe the Horsehead was out.

[Crissyloach]

Yes, that is what I heard. Too bad I cant get my albino BN plecos to spawn yet. Definatly have 2 males, and a female...

[starsplitter7]

Give the BN males a cave with a nook. That's what did it for me. Is your girl producing eggs yet? My albinos weren't spawning because my girl was too young. Then I added my other two girls who were about 6 months older, and that's all it took.

[Crissyloach]

I still dont think she is old enough. She is smaller than the others, and not sure if this matters- but she is a different colour than the others. The males are more orange and she is more yellow. I wish that I could get another girl that is the right age. I got them all at the same time, and the only ones they sell are 6 months. The males both have large bristles now, and they are all starting to get a pink spot. How old are yours? This could be why.

One of the males has claimed a hole in a dolphin tank ornament. You can always find him there.

[starsplitter7]

My boys are all bigger than my girls. With my regular BNs the boys are about 4" and the girl is 2". I have had them about two years. With my albinos they are about 1 year and 1.5 year. I don't really know. The albinos are about 3". The two girl albinos are older than the male and other female.

[Crissyloach]

Mine are almost a year now. I think they are not quite old enough.

[starsplitter7]

How long are they nose to tail? If you have good bristles on the boys they are getting ready. Do they all have a cave staked out?

[Crissyloach]

The albinos are 3-4 inches. They do have some large bristles- they should be almost ready. They do have a little cave, and a piece of wood that they have chewed on a lot (holes in it!!!).

The loaches were doiung it again. I added another one to their clan, and he is doing it with them. He is smaller than them, so it is fun to watch. It is interesting that they know their own kind- always together.

[starsplitter7]

I make sure my BNs have lots of wood. I know they eat the biofilm at very least, but I think they like the wood too. They all hang all over it.

Do the BNs like their caves?