Clown Loach Trio Change? Help?

[kellybleubook]

Hi. I have (had) a trio of very active clown loaches in my 72 gallon bowfront. They were ALWAYS dancing around the front, chasing one another, schooling together etc. It was awesome. In October (6 months ago) I moved. And when I moved and set the aquarium back up, they stopped coming out. I've cleaned the aquarium and moved all the rocks around quite a bit since October, but since October they've been hiding. Occasionally 1 of them (the alpha female) will come out for food and dart right back into the rock caves. I thought that maybe 1 of the 3 had died without me knowing, because I had read that since they thrive in groups, sometimes when there are only 2, they'll just hide. That's how little I saw them all together. So anyways, thinking one may have died i picked up a baby clown loach from my LFS. Upon adding him to the tank, the 3 original loaches came out! They seemed to accept the new guy, and all 4 of them then retreated back to the caves and I haven't seen them since.

I was hoping that 4 loaches would encourage them to dance and enjoy the tank like they used to, but haven't had any luck. Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? They haven't been introduced to any other fish, no disease in the tank, temps between 78-82, multiple fish cleanings and partial water changes, etc. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks

[Diana]

Mine also go through periods when they are hard to find, or impossible. Then for a while they are up front. Mine really enjoy water movement, and are most active right after I have cleaned the filters and power heads. They like surfing in the water flow.

[yellowsub9]

Yes anytime there is some change in your tank - they freak out and will hide for awhile. For me even after a water change they'll hide for about a day. It seems like the larger ones hide more. My largest CL about 8 in hid for about 6 weeks before he started to come out and join the rest of the crowd. Diane is correct - if the water is not fresh they will hide but when it is they come right out. Good luck to you.

[starsplitter7]

As clowns get older, they sometimes retreat. Do you have any dither fish? For loaches those are the "all clear" fish. I keep giant danios and rainbows for the job. They actively school, and my loaches know it is safe to come out. My loaches are usually out. I keep the tank pretty dim. When I feed it is amazing how many more fish there are. I don't have many shy fish, although it is a catfish and loach tank.

[kellybleubook]

Hmm.. great responses- thank you! I do agree that the fresh water has to be part of it. They always come out for a day or so once I do a water change.. but then go back and hide until the next water change. I'm just not sure what changed (other than their age/maturity) because the frequency between my water changes hasn't changed and they used to be out all the time. I don't have any dither fish as it's a cichlid aquarium. I've never had any issues with aggression or intimidation by the cichlids against the loaches- or even really each other (I don't think they even know they're cichlids sometimes). Maybe the current is different than it was before? Thats the only thing I could think of, as maybe they like to surf the current that is now different since moving the tank. Hmm.. i'll keep you posted- but thanks for the response! Any other suggestions are welcome and appreciated!