I've recently added a couple of clown loach to my tank and they seem to be fine 90% of the time.

However one of them seems to like playing dead... it tends to burrow right under a rock and lay there (usually on it's side) for up to a couple of hours at a time

I'm wondering if this is normal behaviour or if I have a sick fish... when it comes out it's as lively as ever

Steve

Sounds normal to me clowns do play dead and lay onto there sides.
Have you checked your water stats.

This post has been edited by Wilder: Mar 26 2008, 09:17 AM

Not checked them for a week or so.. will do them today as it's a new ish tank

Has the tank cycled then.
How many gallons is the tank.
How many fish and which type.

It's a 50 gal tank which i've upgraded to from a 20 gal.

I used the water from my old tank and the filter from there alongside a larger new filter so I figured it was just like doing a 60% water change
Also used my existing rocks and plants.

Monitored the water for a couple of weeks and appart from a slight rise in nitrate everything was fine (changed about 20% of water after 3 days to bring it back down)

Original fish were

3 neon tetras
4 zebra danio's
2 catfish
and 2 pleco's which had outgrown my old tank... hence the upgrade

New fish added were

2 clown loach
3 silver sharks
and 2 albino frogs

If I'd looked on here first i would have stayed clear of the frogs because of their slow feeding and having other bottom feeders in there but the guy in the shop assured me they'd be fine

This post has been edited by stevyba: Mar 26 2008, 09:49 AM

Nitrates are not harmful to fish but nitrites are.
Nitrates only become harmful when above 100.
What your tap nitrate reading.

This post has been edited by Wilder: Mar 26 2008, 10:03 AM

I'll go and do the tests now and report back

Nitrite 0.25
Nitrate 5
Ammonia 0.25
PH 7.8

Tap Nitrate 5


Judging by the nitrite, may be time for another water change?

Your tanks still cycling.
Yes water change and increase aeration in the tank.
The clown loaches and silver sharks will need a bigger tank as they get bigger,usually 90 gallons.

This post has been edited by Wilder: Mar 26 2008, 10:42 AM

Thanks for the help

I'll turn up the air pump a little.. it's onto a 12" airstone running quite low at the moment and do a water change

At the moment the clowns are only about 2" and the sharks only about 2 1/2" but I'm prepared to get a larger tank if and when it's needed

Ok.
Good luck.

A good clown loach article for you.
http://www.bollmoraakvarieklubb.org/artikl...own%20loach.htm

Thanks for that.... interesting reading

yes it is perfectly normal for clown loaches to lie on their side. it freaked me out too when i first saw it but this is what they do! you will enjoy them i hope as they are, in my opinion, one of the more playful fish. they do need to live in groups of about 3 or more though or they will be unhappy. enjoy your loaches!!!

I'll wait till my tank settles down a bit more and then add another one or two.... don't want my fish to be unhappy