dithers not working...*updated with pics*

[poeticpyro]

for some reason the 11 tiger barbs are not getting the clowns to come out, the yo-yos however, won't stay hidden lol! is there anything else i can do? their tank is heavily planted and there are several caves scattered about with more driftwood on the way...

[Mark Janssen]

can you post a picture of your tank?

it's a lot easier to view a photo than a written text to get a good view of the situation.

it can take a week or maybe longer when botia's show themselfs during the day...

how long do you have them?

are they coming out during feeding time?

[Mark in Vancouver]

Dither fish may have little or no effect if other factors are at play. Sometimes the tank might be too bright, or in a high-traffic area, or some other issue might be keeping the clowns in hiding. I kept white clouds and tetras in my Botia tank thinking they would act as dither fish, but I honestly don't think they had much effect. The loaches had just gotten used to a nocturnal lifestyle. The clowns were rarely seen when the lights were on.

Dither fish also had no effect on my sids/kuhli tank or the horsefaced loaches.

[mary.burns3]

Clowns prefer dim light, so your tank lights may just be too much. Try leaving them off for a few days and see if the clowns come out to play during the day. How many are in the group?

[chefkeith]

IMO if clowns have competition for a comfortable spot in a hidey hole they won't come out as much. It's like kids with that the end seat on a couch when they are watching TV, nobody likes to sit in the middle. They don't want to get up from that end spot (to goto the bathroom or get something to drink) because they know as soon as they get up that spot will be gone.
That and
Mostly my clowns only come out if they are hungry. If I feed them small portions 2-3 times per day instead of 1 large portion they'll more than likely be out and about more ofton.

They don't like bright lighting either. I've been playing around with the lights on my 190g tank. Now I have it set so atleast half of my aquarium is always kind of dark. I have my lights on timers and light only half of tank at a time. Light for 2 hours on the left, then 2 hours on the right, 2 hours on the left, then 2 hours on the right. Most plants arn't growing much, but they arn't dieing either. The clowns will usually congregate in the dim half of the tank during these short photo periiods. During lights off they are everywhere. I have some dim dusk/dawn lights on this tank also.

[TammyLiz]

I don't have clowns but I do try to keep half of my tank shaded. The way I do it is I have planted a lily and allowed it to send out floating leaves. Almost half of the tank is completely covered in floating lily leaves, so not only is it shaded, but it has a pretty green natural glow to that side of the tank. Low light plants still grow in the shade below the lily, as well.

So here I go giving away my best secrets.

[poeticpyro]

pictures will be coming soon, just can't turn the flash off of the camera and i really need to. the tank is 6' long. the ALPHA (of all loaches) and the two babies come out the most... dance and everything. the brightness may be a factor, lights are on 8 hours a day for the plants. there are 7 clowns total, so they should feel safe and i've had all of them for a year (or so). any questions that i missed i'm sorry...

[poeticpyro]

the far right of the tank...


the far left of the tank...


the center of the tank (CLOWNS MAIN HIDEOUT: the LOG)


the whole tank...

sorry the pics aren't that good... but hopefully they help.

[Hell Fire]

Mine only come out at night, very rae to see them in daylight hours!! May pop out for a bit of blood worm etc but only when im not about and its quiet. I dont know wht this is as they have a lovely tank and great plants and hidy holes but still its how they are. Charecter i guess like people, some are shy some are not. They are naturaly night dwelers so wouldnt worry although it is a pin that like me you can only see thme with a moon light. My others were out a lot but these 3 baby ones are just big scaredy loaches!

[shari2]

Perfect example of the 'your mileage may vary' factor with loaches.

Mine were recluses in the 55. Moved them to a 40g (because I was downsizing...um, yeah...) and they became personable, friendly, eat out of my hand clowns. Go figure...It may have had something to do with the angelfish habits that share that tank. They always came to the front begging when they saw me. The clowns watched them a couple of days and seemed to realize that they were only getting the leftovers, and they started shoving the angels out of the way to get the food. The littlest ones were the boldest, and would actually sit in my hand slurping up the bloodworms as fast as they could. They all come out when they see my hand open the lid, now.

I am NOT recommending keeping clowns in small tanks, however. They are back in the 55 now, and are still coming up to eat and swimming about in the open during the day. Give it time, make sure that when you approach the tank it's to feed them, and eventually (maybe) they will get the idea...

[NancyD]

Try some floating plants, the gouramis might like them too. A dark background would keep some light from bouncing off the walls. Maybe try tipping the urns over more so less light goes in & the loaches don't have to go up off the gravel as much to go in.
My clowns stay out more if the have tiny pelleted food to hunt for in the substrate. I have tiger barbs too & lately they seem less dither & more dinner bell.
Nancy

[Mark Janssen]

try putting in some valisneria a great plant that wil grow about in any tank... the long leaves will darken the tank and maybe the will come out...

[poeticpyro]

thanks guys, floating plants, sounds good. the urns are custom made to be like that (sorry can't tip them). would the floating plants harm the other plant growth?

good examples of floating plants? i had bananna plants galore, but no one sells them anymore.

[Mark Janssen]

good examples of floating plants? i had bananna plants galore, but no one sells them anymore.

some of your plants aren't real aquariumplants so they will dye soner or later anyway.

most real aquariumplants can't hold himself high out of the water and will hand flat. plants like javaverns that stay up are swampplants or plants that can live for a limit of time onderwater.

if a plant lookslike something you would or could have in your livingroom it will probelly do better outside dan inside your tank.

[mistergreen]

you can try duckweed (Lemnaceae), water lilies, anubias