Clown loaches suddenly nowhere to be seen

On Fri, 01 Jun 2007 08:48:34 -0700, Tynk <TYNK7 DeleteThis @aol.com> wrote:

>On Jun 1, 7:16?am, Dick <remdic... DeleteThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> On Thu, 31 May 2007 18:57:08 -0400, nob... DeleteThis @junk.min.net wrote:
>> >In <1178860588.804719.168... DeleteThis @l77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, on 05/10/07
>> > at 10:16 PM, AcesWi... DeleteThis @gmail.com said:
>>
>> >>Thanks to all for the great advice. I'm please to say that in the week
>> >>since my posting, I've seen both of them out and about--not nearly as
>> >>much as they were before, but they're healthy and somewhat active. I've
>> >>read quite a lot online about loaches and have discovered that two really
>> >>isn't enough, so I plan on adding two more.
>>
>> >>Not sure why they got so shy so suddenly. But I guess that's just the way
>> >>it goes with fish sometimes.
>>
>> >If there is room in your tank to add more fish, I'd add three clown
>> >loaches. hey're happiest in small schools. hey're expensive, but they
>> >live a long time if properly cared for.
>>
>> >Here's a good loach site: ,oachesonline.com
>>
>> >Alan
>>
>> I have 3 CL in a 29 and 9 in a 75 gallon tank. see the 3 much more
>> than the 9. he 75 gallon has heavy bottom growth and they hide. or
>> a couple of years I rarely saw the 75 CLs, then I moved a very big CL
>> from the 29 and since then I see more of them, mostly for the morning
>> feeding.
>>
>> I have had my CLs for 4 years.
t one time I thought the Siamese
>> algae Eaters may have been a threat, but moving the Big Guy left 3 CLs
>> to 6 SAEs and yet the CLs swim about more without Big Guy.
>>
>> In the morning, the 75 gallon tank is swarming with fish mostly
>> clustered where I put the food. obody seems afraid and no signs of
>> attacks.
t the afternoon feeding the CLs seem to not think it worth
>> the effort to get food, while the rest of the community does.
>>
>> Who can say what goes on in the fish mind?- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
>I stumbled on a little trick to get Clown Loaches to warm up to me and
>in no time they were actually out and begging for attention, or food
>just like the rest of the fish in the tank were.
>I had never seen anything like it from a CL, and I've had several
>throughout the yrs.
>When I added Dwarf African Frogs to the tank that also housed CL's and
>Angelfish I had to hand feed the Froggies....otherwise they would have
>starved in that tank. CL's and Angel's are piggies.
>I would feed the frogs with a medicine type dropper that had
>bloodworms in it.
>The Clowns quickly picked up on this (the angels had to be swooshes
>away from the start of course). In no time the clowns were coming up
>to the dropper as soon as it hit the water. In no time they weren't
>shy a bit and were and about all the time.
>They only acted like shy clowns when we had people over, or my
>daughter had a bunch of kids over.
>Who wouldn't want to hide with a bunch of kids running around, lol.
>I've tamed several different Clowns this way and in all cases none
>acted shy anymore.

I have had a similar experience with Plecos, I found they could learn
to come to the surface and feed on flake food even from my finger.
I might try enticing the Clowns with flake food. In the morning they
seem very daring.

On Sat, 02 Jun 2007 05:54:17 -0700, Tynk <TYNK7.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:

>On Jun 2, 6:56?am, Dick <remdic....DeleteThis@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> I have had a similar experience with Plecos, I found they could learn
>> to come to the surface and feed on flake food even from my finger.
>> I might try enticing the Clowns with flake food. In the morning they
>> seem very daring.-
>
>Do you have any frozen foods such as Bloodworms or Brine Shrimp?
>Flake, let's face it, is a bit boring for fish.

Don't tell my fish, flake is all they get and they couldn't get more
active in the morning.

>Anyone who feeds both knows the difference between how the fish go
>after flake vs bloodworms or brine, etc.
>If you have anything like that, try it.
>Another note, if they're aldready shy, trying it at the surface may
>not help at all with the situation.
>You have to coax them out when you are moving about the
>tank ...something that might usually freak them out a bit.
>With a feeding instrument (be it medicine dropper or an actual feeding
>tube used in marine set ups) you'll be able to get them coming out to
>grab food and they'll get used to you. Gettting them to come to you
>when there isn't any food takes a little time.
>My Clowns would be at the front of the tank begging for attention
>anytime I went to or walked past the tank.

I have a chair next to my 75 gallon tank that I use for part of my
morning exercise. When I sit there bobbing up and down I have a rapt
audience! <g>

>It was the coolest thing. There were Angels, female bettas and my
>clowns...all going back and forth trying to get my attention.
>Careful of those eye spines though. Sometimes they'll get into a
>feeding frenzy and if you have the food in your fingers, just be
>careful.
>

I would see more of my fish if I weeded the live plant growth more.
The SAEs rest on top of the growth while the CLs rest under it. Very
little bare gravel. I have 4 Cory cats that I almost never see,
whereas the 2 Plecos roost more near the top of the tank.

Everything aquatic comes via internet orders. Flake food is very
handy and my fish do well. I don't cook steaks for myself. We all
compromise one way or another. As my current stock of fish die, I
plan to retire all of my tanks but the 75. I want to outlive my fish
and 2 dogs so I can take care of them. I am worried that the SAEs and
the CLs and Plecos may live too long and I will reach the "finish
line" before them! <g>