Clown Loach problems

[nick270871]

Hi all,

I wonder if any of you good people out there could offer me some advice regarding my pair of clown loaches (I know they're not particularly unusual, but they're fun). I've recently set up a second tank and last weekend we bought a couple of clown loaches (we've got 4 in the main tank downstairs, and thought we'd have some more). Unlike the ones downstairs, the new ones are refusing food, I've tried flake, catfish pellets, cucumber - all of which are popular with the big fellas in the main tank but to no avail. Any suggestions? I'm starting to get concerned...

Cheers

Nick

[jc]

You may wanna try bloodworm (life, frozen) or spirulina tablets (i use the one from Sera), mine love them.

[Marc van Arc]

Here are a few things that may be useful:
- you don't have them that long. They're timid fish at first
- they should be kept in a group. Perhaps they're not at ease, which causes some stress and thus they don't eat - at least not when you are watching
- newly introduced Clowns are very liable to Ich, better known as white spot disease. Maybe that is bothering them?

[pictus_man_77]

this always happens when i get new fish, but dont worry, if its a fish like the clown loach, give them lots of places to hide, and leave some food in, and then see what happens

[Kana3]

I bought two Clown's recently, and although they were skitish, they settled in ok. They've taken over a couple poly-pipe tunnels I'd made for the Cory's and Ancistrus. My tank's heavily planted with lot's of hidey-holes, so as Pictus-Man said, make them feel safe and comfortable.

And you could always try Snails!

[racoll]

Hi.

If you could provide us with the info in this sticky, we might be able to help.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4305

[jc]

could also be the light, mine just go into hiding when the light's switched on, so i feed them in the morning before turning on the light