Clown Loach Weapon

banana · Feb 8, 2008

I have 3 decent sized clown loaches (average 12cm) and ive heard that they have a 'razor' beneath each eye but i have never seen my loaches deploy them before...
is there a way i can get my loaches to show me there weapons??

Mikaila31 · Feb 8, 2008

Apparently so, although I never knew that before. Not much of a weapon IMO :lol:

. Platydoras costatus have the best defensive weapons IMO.

banana · Feb 8, 2008

Mikaila31 said:
Apparently so, although I never knew that before. Not much of a weapon IMO . Platydoras costatus have the best defensive weapons IMO.

Haha cooool

thanks :fun:

Lateral Line · Feb 9, 2008

The Botias all possess a greater or smaller eye spine. These can inflict a painful cut if the fish is mishandled, although normally, it is not apparent. Another thing to be aware of is that the spine can catch in nets, not noticing the spine is caught can lead to it being damaged, this sometimes leads to the death of the fish.

mikev · Feb 9, 2008

I had exactly this happened when I was buying a clown a couple of years ago: he got the weaponry out, got it entangled in the net, and when the salesman at the store released him, used the spines on the salesman....the guy screamed and cursed for a few minutes. Only a finger cut, but a deep one.
The clown was fine.

Rubix · Feb 18, 2008

just under the eye
click for image
(credit: Emma Turner of Maidenhead Aquatics and Loaches.com)

from loaches.com "Clowns raise these formidable weapons when they need to defend themselves, or when disturbed in some way. This one had recently been moved to this tank and was unsettled. Great care must be taken when moving Clowns and indeed all Botiine Loaches because the spines can catch in a net and damage the fish. Also, when transporting the species, multiple bags must be used to avoid punctures and loss of water."
as LL said above, all of the Botiine loaches have this trait.

rocknurworld2006 · Feb 20, 2008

I have oneof these in my aquarium Acanthodoras spinosissimus
absolute gorgeous catfish!!!
[URL="http

/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...p?species_id=81"]http

/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/speci...p?species_id=81[/URL]

im assuming these will have large spines like the humbug cat as previpously mentioned, anyone else have these and have any pics of spines out??
heres a better pic of catfish but still not a great one!
http

/www.israquarium.co.il/Fish/FishInde...nosissimus.html

Lateral Line · Feb 21, 2008

Acanthodoras are catfish not CC&A, you may get a better response if you post here.

TwoTankAmin · Feb 21, 2008

I have always referred to them as switchblades

shelaghfishface · Feb 21, 2008

i have heard that they do harm (?) other fish in fights, but i think they just nick not cut,

go to google and search clown loach,and that encyclopedia page will be there, its ever so interesting,also great pics of them when they are big

i love these fish they are sooo cute

Rubix · Mar 6, 2008

Here's a relevant video, a clown loach with it's "weapon" out :good:

[URL="http

/youtube.com/watch?v=7o4wUp_lZn4&feature=related"]http

/youtube.com/watch?v=7o4wUp_lZn4&feature=related[/URL]

edit: whoops i didn't see this link already posted above... well here it is again-it's a cool video

benji1452 · Mar 16, 2008

lol speaking of wepons this guy in my lfs when i was buying 4 told me that they were venemous and they had barbs in there front fins and dorsal fin i reasearched alot on them before buying them so im sure he was giving me a load of bull to make convo since he was a new employee lol
True or False that is the question?