Clown Loach Sparring

I always knew that cichlids were sometimes aggressive to one another but clown loahces. I came home and went downstairs to take a look at my tank when i looked in everything seemed fine. I looked closer and my largest clown loach (1.5") had a gray colouring to it, i thought he was stressed. Turns out the two of them were fighting for leader in the group (or at least thats what i read). They were fighting exactly like cichlids locking mouths together. Well the smallest guy now has a bite out of his left fin. Is there any reason to worry about the aggression.

If you have another tank seperate them.
I have a "hospital tank" for times like this.

I remove injured fish.
Then treat with medicines and salt till healed in another tank.

If you think that they will not get along, sell the weaker fish.(after healed of course)

Just my 2 cents

Aggression between fish will lead to death by injury or stress....Always.

they are perfectly fine now. I think they were just fighting for dominance of their group(Which only consists of 2). I put more fish and i'm not seeing any more fights but the bigger one has made his stripes gray almost all the time.

yup you'll get fights over "territory" especially with cichlids. Just a side note, never add a new fish then feed, always add after feeding, not that has anything to do with you lol. I mix tanks, and will move fish quite often, if I see a fight break out I let them have bouts, they usually work it out. If one gets too tore up, or the figting doesn't end then it is time to move one. Of course a larger fish fighting (killing) a smaller fish needs to be seperated.

Your fish color will vary. If they feeled scared, aggressive, even the gravel you use (light gravel gives you an olive JD, dark gravel and they go almost black) so the constant stripe might be a warning, or sign of submission. I know clown loaches like cichlids will use colors to communicate(no where as advanced though), but I'm not real familar with there signs.

Best wishes!

Sounds like you worked it all out.
That is a good thing.

from what i've read the dominant clown loach will almost always show a more greyish colour. I guess just to get the message across.

i bought a clown loach as one of my starter fish...it lived for a year and then when i did a waterchange it died on me....

I think that clowns shouldn't be in cichlid's tank!
That cute little fellow has no "scales" and it is a bit dangerous for him to live in tank with agressive cichlids and so hard water (ph: 8 - 9)!
You may not have any problems for a long time, but how can be sure for the ph ups and downs!!!




(Clowns must be in planted tanks, with rocks and woods)
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile13.html


Sorry for my terrible english!

I personally don't keep loaches.

But have to agree with above statement.

I have seen many mixed tanks these days and they do survive.
Not the best conditions for these delicate fish.

Most people I have talked with have a hard time keeping loaches longterm.

I did read they like snails...which would be great for my snail problems


Here is some info I found;


Acceptable Water Conditions:
Hardness: to 5° dH
Ph: 6.0-6.5
Temp: 77-86° F (25-30° C)



This fish prefers a fairly large aquarium (30 gallons or so) with plants and places for retreat such as rocks, caves, and roots. Also use subdued lighting. They do best in soft, slightly acidic water with frequent water changes of about 10% a week. Because they are burrowers, the substrate needs to be a fine gravel or sand that does not have sharp edges. Be sure to provide hardy plants with the roots protected and have decorations firmly placed on the glass bottom so they don't fall over. Plastic tubes also make safe and excellent hiding places.

Resource=
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/loaches/ClownLoach.php

ya i am considering giving them to one of my friends. I'm still deciding. Somtime they drive me nuts but i still do like them

I like you love the look of the loach.

I would like to own a few sometime but I steer away from delicate species as a rule.

Like the discus...I can't afford to buy any fish as expensive and demanding as these guys.
Then a few days later or weeks later they die....with perfect water conditions !

Some people have the money to buy and rebuy these poor fish but I don't

This doesn't mean you guys or other shouldn't keep discus or loaches just be ready to stay on top of your aquaruim water conditions and able to afford the extra equipment that may be needed to make your tap water suitable for these kinds of fish....or other delicate species.

Good Luck either way you decide

.....i didn't know they did that, i do have a clown loach that likes beating up african cichlids though.He doesn't mind my dwarfs though so all is good

Breninoz wrote:

.....i didn't know they did that, i do have a clown loach that likes beating up african cichlids though.

Ya from the reading i have done, clown loaches get aggressive towards some other fish if they are alone in a tank.

yeah,if a loach feels threatened it will use the barbs on its cheeks, sometimes people pick them up with their hands and get cut by them...of course theres really no need to pick them up with your hands....

Breninoz wrote:

yeah,if a loach feels threatened it will use the barbs on its cheeks, sometimes people pick them up with their hands and get cut by them...of course theres really no need to pick them up with your hands....

What about when you need pet them?