Blue Ram identity

[Negseven]

Hi have introduced a single blue ram with my clown loaches and he thinks he is one of them, they have adopted him, should I be worried ? How can I break it to him he isn’t a clown loach ?

 

[Byron]

Hi have introduced a single blue ram with my clown loaches and he thinks he is one of them, they have adopted him, should I be worried ? How can I break it to him he isn’t a clown loach ?

It would be interesting to see a video if you can post one (upload to YouTube, then post the link here). Behaviours can tell us things, warn us of problems, etc.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Would also be interested in a video!

 

[GaryE]

You may have to buy him a red nose, large shoes and makeup. It's hard to fit in with clowns.

Oh, and for clown loaches, he'll probably need two razor sharp shanks he can install on this cheeks, so he really fits in with the tough kids.

 

[anewbie]

Clown loaches are social fishes; gbr not as much.

 

[Negseven]

Here’s a vid -

 

[Byron]

OK, that tells us (me anyway) something. The ram is not all together happy having these rambunctious loaches in his space, but there is no sign of any aggression, at least not yet in the video, so it is not a problem but does bear watching. I'd wager that is a male ram, given the fins and his behaviour; this means he is now the "owner" of the entire tank space. So if he encounters any other fish he sees as trouble, he may go on the defensive. Just keep an eye on it.

The loaches are also showing sign of serious stress by glass surfing as we call it, but that is normal when they are in a new environment, as I assume this may be (?). By new I mean within a couple of months. Once they settle down, their annoyance on the ram will likely disappear, or at least reduce.

Nothing serious at present, just be observant. And the best way to see interactions is to sit in front of the tank for 30 or more minutes without once moving; the fish will forget you are there, and go about their business. They see you as their food source, so if you are in front of the tank they have that in their mind and may not be honest in their interactions. Sneaky fellows, lol.

 

[Negseven]

OK, that tells us (me anyway) something. The ram is not all together happy having these rambunctious loaches in his space, but there is no sign of any aggression, at least not yet in the video, so it is not a problem but does bear watching. I'd wager that is a male ram, given the fins and his behaviour; this means he is now the "owner" of the entire tank space. So if he encounters any other fish he sees as trouble, he may go on the defensive. Just keep an eye on it.

The loaches are also showing sign of serious stress by glass surfing as we call it, but that is normal when they are in a new environment, as I assume this may be (?). By new I mean within a couple of months. Once they settle down, their annoyance on the ram will likely disappear, or at least reduce.

Nothing serious at present, just be observant. And the best way to see interactions is to sit in front of the tank for 30 or more minutes without once moving; the fish will forget you are there, and go about their business. They see you as their food source, so if you are in front of the tank they have that in their mind and may not be honest in their interactions. Sneaky fellows, lol.

Thanks for the info Byron

 

[anewbie]

OK, that tells us (me anyway) something. The ram is not all together happy having these rambunctious loaches in his space, but there is no sign of any aggression, at least not yet in the video, so it is not a problem but does bear watching. I'd wager that is a male ram, given the fins and his behaviour; this means he is now the "owner" of the entire tank space. So if he encounters any other fish he sees as trouble, he may go on the defensive. Just keep an eye on it.

The loaches are also showing sign of serious stress by glass surfing as we call it, but that is normal when they are in a new environment, as I assume this may be (?). By new I mean within a couple of months. Once they settle down, their annoyance on the ram will likely disappear, or at least reduce.

Nothing serious at present, just be observant. And the best way to see interactions is to sit in front of the tank for 30 or more minutes without once moving; the fish will forget you are there, and go about their business. They see you as their food source, so if you are in front of the tank they have that in their mind and may not be honest in their interactions. Sneaky fellows, lol.

I'm not so sure it is stress when they glass surf - but rather they are exploring the new environment. As for aggression clowns are amazingly lay back even when another fish attacks them. I had a small cichilid that wanted a cave a clown loach was in and would constantly try to disturb it and it just slept all day and ignored it - now and then flapping its tail in its face. Come to think of it it did the same thing when a pleco wanted the same cave. I was worried that one day it would get rather upset and spike it (the clown was not a small one - but for some reason it would prefer to stay in this cave then with the other 8 on the other side). Mind you i'm not pushing for an aggressive environment though this points out that it takes a bit to disturb a clown loach.