Loaches Online Forum

I know the clicking noise is is being made by my clown loaches dining on their fresh shrimp, but how is it being made? Is it a sound caused by biting or is it caused by suction? My husband and I are very curious about this and would really appreciate any information.

Linda

I didn't know the mechanics of how but found this on
Wikipedia

One special characteristic of this loach group is the ability to produce a loud "clicking" noise, which is commonly heard during feeding time. This noise stems from a special type of pharyngeal teeth that are used to extract snails from their shells.

Hi Linda,

There are some interesting theories regarding clicking, explained in the book "Loaches - Natural History and Aquarium Care" (ISBN: 978-0793806201).

Emma

Thanks Dave! I really appreciate you looking that up.

And thank you to you too, Emma. I ordered a copy this past weekend and I'm looking forward to it's arrival this week!

Linda

it definitely means they are happy with the food if its during feeding. ill hear them click at each other when they are about to loach battle.

one of my bigger loaches is getting real nasty. he clicks at every fish that gets behind him.

i see you guys are from georgia. cool. I graduated uga!

Yeah, that's usually when I hear the clicking. Many, many years ago I had an aquarium in my bedroom and of course, I had clowns in it. One day I brought home a few bunches of live plants and that night all I heard was "click.., click,...click click ,..CLICK,..etc. Apparently the plants had tons of tiny snails. The next morning my clowns were very fat and looked very happy! Recently I put a little snail in for my biggest clown as a treat. She smelled it and then basically ignored it for two days. Then I heard what (at first) I thought was the tank breaking, but I quickly realized "Big Girl" finally took interest in the snail. Yea! for her,.. but not for the snail, luckly it was quick!

Linda
(clickity click in clown loach language)

Does anyone know of any loach species that definitely DON'T click? I'm doing a study of the clicking sound and need to compare the jaw morphology to a species that don't produce the clicking sound. Please let me know ASAP if you know one!

Pangios, leptocephalichthis, tuberoschistera (or whatever they currently are,),schisturas, vallentella,, are some of the "non-clickers" I've kept. Sidthimunki not so much, & IME hillstreams, in all the species, don't click either. Though I've haven't kept them I don't think weater loaches click either.

I suspect the clicking is a form of cavitation (involving a shock wave). The pistol shrimp is a particularly good example of an animal using this.

Thank you!

has anyone else had tiger botias do this? mine get super loud at ight

You might be interested in this new research on the clicking

http://mummygaia.blogspot.co.uk/2014_09_01_archive.html

Thanks loachgirl, neat study!

Yes, thanks loachgirl. That is very interesting!!!