and moves if you touch the tank, but other than that he rarely moves, any ideas what is wrong?
2006-10-25 05:54:28 · 12 answers · asked by david c 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Clown loaches, and in fact nearly all members of the family Cobitidae, are known for laying in weird positions. This tends to be more common after they eat a large meal. Loaches also tend to be shy fish, and it is not too uncommon for them to spend most of the day laying in their favorite hiding place. As long as your water quality is good (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and under 20 nitrates), and the loach does not appear disoriented when he does swim, he is most likely fine.
Loaches relish small live and frozen foods such as bloodworms. If you want to lure him out of hidng, try putting in some worms or small arthropods, and he should go crazy for them. Also, because most loaches are shoaling fish, they like to be kept in groups.
I take it your fish is a single specimen, which is probably why he is hiding so much. If you get a couple more Clown Loaches, they should become more active. Be warned, however, that this species grows very large (they are a food fish in their native range), and full-grown Clown Loaches need at least a 100 gallon tank. They can be kept in smaller tanks (around 30 gallons), however, for the first few years because they tend to grow slowly. Because of their potential activity level and relatively large waste-output, they should not be kept in tanks under 25 gallons for any length of time.
Hope this helps.
2006-10-25 06:38:31 · answer #1 · answered by give_me_more_drugs675 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Clown loaches are known for lying on the bottom on their sides and such like their dead, or doing a dog pile with other ones. However, if you're concerned, check your water parameters. Ammonia and nitrite should be 0 ppm, nitrates should be less than 20ppm. Is your tank the proper size and not overstocked? CL's do best in groups of at least 3, though they get quite large, they do grow slowly. And they love caves and hidey holes, so if you don't have any try adding some. Mine love to go up underneath the decorations.
2006-10-25 07:12:43 · answer #2 · answered by tikitiki 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the others have suggested clown loaches are bottom dwellers, i stumbled on out even as on my own my clown loach became now to not chuffed so now I have 4 and performance not in any respect seem a lot interesting. in spite of the indisputable fact that beware you nee a quite huge setup for this as they could improve to 20cm and stay for about 20 years yet they are worth it. What length is your tank and what different fish do you've.
2016-12-05 05:28:26 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clown loaches are bottom feeders and dwellers but I have several in my tanks and they swim around too. Are you feeding it with algae wafers? Thye need a food which sinks, he could be hungry and under nourished. Try the wafers and see how he goes. It might be an idea to get him some friends as they are happiest in small shoals (around 6). I have 8 and they hang around together most of the time ;D
2006-10-25 05:59:57 · answer #4 · answered by huggz 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Fish have personalities too. Maybe he's just a lazy fish and likes to just lay there. Maybe you could buy another clown loach and see if he just needs a play mate. I don't know the size of your tank or what other fish you have.
I would for sure get your water checked just for good measure. If you don't have your own testing kits, just bring a water sample to a pet store and they should check it for you...free of charge in most cases.
2006-10-25 06:29:49 · answer #5 · answered by oppsy_poopsy123 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's probably fine, fish like that don't move a lot and spend much of their time on the bottom of the tank. They generally are more active nocturnally.
2006-10-26 00:07:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
do you have a air stone in the tank? if not get one in there he may be feeling groggy from lack of air! try doing small water changes IE 20% daily. look for any-other signs of illness! white spots decaying fins etc if you have had tropical fish for a while you will know the usual things to look out for
2006-10-25 08:43:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is pretty normal. They only do this all the time when they are full, or ill. Are you over feeding him, or the rest of the fish? Have you checked your ammonia, and nitrates?
2006-10-25 08:28:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my oreander did that the other day and i was concerned...turned out it had constipation... are you feeding it live food? dry food all the time is really really bad for fish, its like eating weetabix with no milk everyday...
youd know if it was dead as all fish float when they were dead...
another bit of advice is to gently hold thier tale and pull them backwards...this gives them an oxygen boost an usually perks them up...
x
2006-10-25 07:13:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/botia_macracanthus.html
It says that them laying on the bottom is normal, some even lay on their sides.
2006-10-25 05:56:59 · answer #10 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋