Do loaches build caves?

[crocodylus]

Hola amigos!

About a week ago one of my smaller clown loaches started to burrow under a big rock (don't worry, its diagonally suspended, one end in the substrate and the other on a piece of driftwood), so i tought he was searching for some MTS and went to bed. In the morning the wife noticed a big sand mound besides the rock, seems like one of my big momma Yo-Yos had taken over the digging and now has a cave underneat the rock They have plenty of driftwood pieces, rocks and plants to hide under. Is that common behaviour?

[Ded1]

Well, couldnt say really it is "building" a cave, but it is normal behaviour ( as far as I know from my own experiance).

I have built really great "hidding place" from all kind of driftwood and plants that are attached to that driftwood, and now have riccia to darken that entire area. And yes, they really like the place, but instead of using bigger "normal" entrance to it, they dig a little "path" under one piece of driftwood and use it to get in the "cave", so...in a way it is similar to your situation.

They dont really like "big entrances" I guess ...if they can not squeeze inside, its not good

[Diana]

Several of my fish have hollowed out under rocks or driftwood to customize their cave.
Certain Cichlids, and a Violet Goby have been the most industrious. So far my Loaches do not seem too interested in digging.

[newshound]

I find my eos to be the biggest diggers I have hands down.
they work on a new look for my tank everytime something is moved

[Tinman]

I have never seen any of mine mine ,yet.....although I have been substrate free for a several years.I do have sand now and have not seen this type of activity.They will sift and /or pick up small rocks and roll them in their mouth before spitting them back out but never dig in my experiance ......Do you have any Pleco's in the tank,this is common for them and a loach will always take to an upgrade in accomodation's

[ckk125]

Yes, they'll burrow...the pipes which i made for my loaches gets pushed around very often so that some of them can sqeeze themselves under the pipes.

[chefkeith]

My clowns try to wedge themselves into everything. digging out sand/gravel underneath driftwood especially.

[mikev]

My clowns try to wedge themselves into everything. digging out sand/gravel underneath driftwood especially.

Ditto. But Yoyo's are even more prone to this.

[Tinman]

Chen said

Yes, they'll burrow

Chen,You have so many it must(might) be as there is no place else left to hide then so they make one. I always have more hiding places than fish.So this behavior has never shown itself here. I have the same pipe homes as you Chen ,they really like to pile up

Crocodylus, Is this your situation? More fish than hidey-holes? Maybe a little urban sprawl is needed(or not) All your fish should have a hole as they all like a little time alone .IMO the smallest is always left out ,then picked on somewhat as he/she is in the open or trying to share...not so much with loaches but still a pecking order is established.

[crocodylus]

Maybe i can add a few 2" PVC pipes (can get them for free ) sand the rough edges, silicone some sand to make them blend in.. maybe a pvc 'Y' also or a 30" elbow.. will think about redecorating the tank. When i had a smaller tank they all crammed into the hollow driftwood, now that i have a bigger tank maybe they figure to get more privacy

[ckk125]

Chen said

Yes, they'll burrow

Chen,You have so many it must(might) be as there is no place else left to hide then so they make one. I always have more hiding places than fish.So this behavior has never shown itself here. I have the same pipe homes as you Chen ,they really like to pile up
quote]

Nop..you are wrong. i have WAY more pipes than required...but some wouldnt want to pile up in it.most of the time there are a few empty pipes..i would say this more likely due to each loaches' personality.

[Mark Janssen]

indeed this is normal, but my yoyo's are seen more doing it that my other botia's (kubotai, morleti and rostrata)

[Tinman]

Yes Chen I have more space too , Never seen that behavior here. Using holes, or adjusting them but never making them. My substrate was small pebbles before I went with none. so that might be why my experiance is different. I have sand now and have been watching very close. I will watch for signs of mining......

[shari2]

Have to say I've not seen my clowns burrowing. Bulldozing, slapping around throwing sand everywhere, but not determined burrowing.

Yoyos, on the other hand excavated a burrow between a rock and a slab of slate (and this was a relatively large sized gravel substrate). When I'd move the slate to vac, every time after replacing it there'd be rocks flying around till they got it back the way they wanted it. I had a couple of modesta's at the time too, who'd periodically kick out the yoyos and they'd rearrange rocks to fit their liking. They were opportunists. Let the yoyos do most the work, then booted them out, made it a bit bigger, and sat there going, 'yeah, I took your house. Wut you gonna do about it?'

[Ded1]

Sorry for bad quality photo, I took it by mobile phone. I dont know did they actually "built"it or just star squeezing inside on that spot and that is how it came to existance. But, it wasnt there, driftwood was directly in touch with ground, now there is a space between and few of them are using it.