KerryO Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 My Clown Loache has suddenly started to eat my plants. At first I thought the mysterious holes appearing in some of my leaves was caused by snails. I caught him this morning, after he had eaten his breakfast, methodically working long some leaves chewing holes and virtually destroying the plants. I actually heard him before I saw him. I have probably had him for 6mths, and he has never done it this bad before, if at all. I must confess a couple of weeks ago I decreased the feeding of my fish from two feeds, too one per day. I also halfed my light intensity, all to stop algae from suffocating my plants. This has been very successfull, with lots of new plant growth now. But why is that clown eating my plants? I do feed pellet food to him and the cats, about every 2nd or 3rd day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nooboon Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 I don't have this problem with mine but I have heard that they can do this when they are eating snails off the plant leaves. I don't know if that is true but it is a possibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 Is it targeting certain plants, or just whatever plant happens to be closest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 I know that they love to leave horse-shoe markings on amazon swords, I expect that this is due to the broad leaf. I don't know how picky they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted August 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 There are definately no snails! Yes he is targeting one plant, it is a broad leaf variety, though I wouldn't have a clue what it is called. I think it's something like Blue Hygrophilia. Initially the signs were horse shoe shaped markings appearing in the leaves, now it's just total destruction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nooboon Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 If you don't already, perhaps try feeding some algae wafers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted August 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 Thanks, Algae wafers are the pellets that I was meaning. What else do Clown Loaches like to eat? This one feeds from the surface with all the other fish. Maybe some shelled cooked peas would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 clown loaches are genrally noctunal and can get up to all sorts of mischef at night . Yes i have heard of them nipping on plants aren't sure why it would target one particuly plant though When i had clown loaches they use to love shrimp pallets Have you ever been spiked by a clown loach ??? I have as i tried picking one up by hand . They have these spikes just behind there gills it potures out and when it does watch out it really hurts . Good luck with your aquarium maybe you could remove the plant that it is feeding on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted August 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 I was thinking more along the lines of removing the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua Posted August 8, 2003 Report Share Posted August 8, 2003 My Clown Loaches LOVE Shrimp Pellets as well! How many do you have Kerry? If you're thinking of removing them, I'd be more than happy to give them a new home, as I only have two at the moment... It'd have to wait until after the 15th though, cause that's payday (damn monthly pay!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KerryO Posted August 9, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2003 I only have the one, and he is one of my favourite fish, until now. I really wonder if something is missing in his diet, because no matter how much I seem to feed him, he still keeps chomping into these plants. They are looking like they have been blasted with a shot gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nooboon Posted August 9, 2003 Report Share Posted August 9, 2003 Perhaps he's just bored. They usually like to be in groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted August 10, 2003 Report Share Posted August 10, 2003 I used to have 3 clown loaches. I ended up getting rid of them because of the damage they were doing to the sword plants. It seemed that they mainly picked on the broader leaved plants (or perhaps that was just where the damage was most obvious) - got to a point where I just got sick of those horse-shoe shaped holes and traded the loaches in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldie Posted August 10, 2003 Report Share Posted August 10, 2003 I feed my loaches shrimp pellers, blood worms spirulina tabs and flake. My plants in that tank are valleseria, Java fern I have six loaches and they spend a lot of time just playing around - even during the day. They are complete 'clowns" :lol: Sorry to hear about your broadleaf plant - maybe your loach is an artist and sees it as a blank canvas??? (joke) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fatman Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 Try letuce leaves, de shelled peas, cucumber, they love that. Two large slices of cucumber and a large letuce leaf lasts about 5 hours with my 9 loaches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldie Posted August 29, 2003 Report Share Posted August 29, 2003 I recently have been dropping zucchini into the tank - sliced and weighted with small lead weight that usually anchors new plants. All the fish seemed to like it and the bristlenoses and clowns just were queueing up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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