3 clown loaches

[treeh0rn]

I've recently got 3 clown loaches and are wondering why they don't like coming out when the tank lights are on. I have a 73 litre tank with two 15watt lights. My skittish fire tetra have been enticed out since I got 2 corys (they aren't scared of anyone!).

I have cabomba along the back of the tank and they just hide away all the time. They sometimes venture out when the lights are out. Any ideas? Are they acclimitizing or is there something more serious happening? (Their stripes have faded slightly since I brought them home, a sign of stress/acclimitization, according to my lfs).

Please help

 

[R_W]

Do they have anywhere else to hide? My clowns have no problem with the light in my tank ( 55 gal w/ 40 watts or whatever the standard 3 foot low wattage bulb is). They have a PVC pipe buried in the gravel and stay in their little cave according to their own schedules. They are out before the light is on and back in before the lights go off. They even let the red tail shark share their cave at night.

Probably just need to acclimate to the new tank.

Here's the clown loach page at loaches.com

http/www.loaches.com/species_pages/botia...cracanthus.html

There's a few pics of loaches hiding.

 

[G_Sharky]

It's natural, I have 2 clown loach myself and i have them for almost a week, they'll only come out of the cave when their comfortable and feel safe. They used to come out more before i move my 10 G on my room, now everytime i walk in the room they'll go and hide. But everytime i wake up in the morning i see them exploring the tank but as soon as they see me get up they'll dissapear....

 

[my_fallen_angel]

i have to in my fry tank.
i bought them to est the snail that were over running the place.
they live n the castle in there. when i first got them i didnt see them at all.
but after about 2 weeks they were chasing each other around everywhere.
yours will settle down too in time.

just keep an eye on them though to make sure they are alright

 

[Eelzor]

treehorn,

My clowns acted exactly the same before, but now they are out all the time. Just give it time.

 

[Moe]

After about 2 weeks one of mine began to venture out during the day. It took the other 2 over a month. Now they are out all the time. When I first got the I almost brought them back after about a week and a half. LFS told me to be patient. I'm glad I waited it out. Loaches are great fish, so much fun. Now mine come to the surface to feed. They are great.

 

[fishy frenzy]

i think all clowns do that for about 2 weeks then they start to come out more and more

 

[Alien_spawn]

that was the same for my clown loaches