Clowns, Got 4 2 Are And Two Are Not

[rmb]

Got 4 new smallish clown loach, two are super-sociable day and night always dancing, and two are hiding constantly, squeezing into the smallest spaces. They are only in with 12 tiny zebra danios, the sociable two even swim and feed with the danios. In the morning there is occasionally three dancing, at night all 4 of them can occasionally be seen circling the tank at the bottom. What do I need to do to see the other two more often, or have I got two outgoing, one timid and one scared? A few cory's coming in a few weeks perhaps they may help?


300Ltr Tank cycled and planted
Nitrogen stats fine
10% water change daily for the new additions

 

[Assaye]

If your ammonia and nitrites are zero and your nitrates are low then I'd guess one of two things: maybe they are feeling off colour or maybe they are just stressed from the move. Sometimes fish need days or even weeks to settle down.

 

[rmb]

Read something about single alpha female, with clowns, in the tank one of them definately calls the shots for dancing and where to go next, no fighting yet, just wondered whether the other two just don't like being bossed around?

The active two are fantastic, the other two just squeeze into the bogwood.

 

[rmb]

After a few experiments, water testing. etc. upped the temperature from 27C to 29C, blocked any hidey holes in the plastic conduit (for the heaters and pumps etc) with foam, and gave them some half-buried 2" abs pipe and they loved it. I think te temperature change made the most difference. They are dancing like mad (when they are not sleeping). Superb (but a bit mad), fish