Hyperactive Clown Loach

[SueK]

We bought a Clown Loach yesterday and for the past 12 hrs he has been racing up and down the side of the tank! Temp and pH are okay. I'm not sure if he's eaten (the tanks is fed with dried flakes regularly and there are snails about) and there are planty of places for him to rest. Is this "normal" behaviour as it seems to be unsettling some of the others? Any help appreciated!!

 

[fishyfinger]

We bought a Clown Loach yesterday and for the past 12 hrs he has been racing up and down the side of the tank! Temp and pH are okay. I'm not sure if he's eaten (the tanks is fed with dried flakes regularly and there are snails about) and there are planty of places for him to rest. Is this "normal" behaviour as it seems to be unsettling some of the others? Any help appreciated!!

Hi Sue,
welcome.
you will need to post a few more details like
tank size, ammonia,nitrite and nitrate levels, what other fish are in the tank.
Have you just setup and have you cycled the tank.
Ian

 

[Anita]

Hi Sue

That's typical clown loach behaviour, active and pretty mischievous they do like the company of their own kind though and 3+ is a good number.

With him being on his own he might harass the other fish a bit

Please remember that these fish can quite easily reach 6 inches or more in size.

Here's a link for you

http/freshaquarium.about.com/cs/loaches1/p/clownloach.htm

Anita

 

[andywg]

Clowns get quite a bit bigger than 6", try double. I personally have seen a 10" one in an aquarium. The one advantage is just how slow they grow. Most are probably killed by bad husbandry or ill health long before reaching full size.

Repeatedly running up and down the sides or corner of an aquarium is usually a sign of stress. As said, clowns are a shoaling species that do better in groups.