I'm concerned about my clowns hiding

[peacefulfishie]

Hi there! Hope someone can help me out.

I have a 55g FW community tank. It's been going 4 months now. I started with 2 clown loaches, then got one more, then read that they really like to be in larger groups, so I bought another pair. All of these have been small - under 2 inches. They were happy and active, and then ICH set in.

I treated the tank with salt and higher temps. After a few days I tried the Quickcure at half dose every other day for 3 days. Then I lost 2 loaches - one of the smallest (about 1") and 1 of the largest. I also lost all my oto cats. But there was mo more ICH.

I have a couple algea eating shrimp, but I needed something for the glass - not that it is that bad, but just in case, so I went to Petsmart and the employee recommended a couple plecos (hypostomus punctatus) and said they would get very big - HA! They were about 1" and 1 1/2" at that time.

We went on vacation and were gone 6 days. My daughter took care of the tank. Came back and those plecos were almost 3 times as large, and had taken over the cave that the loaches hide under. It's a root decoration so you can hide under it and inside it. The clowns were in it and wouldn't come out. I occasionally saw 2 and thought the third was dead in there, but after peeking in with a flashlight - I know that's not cool for them - saw that he had moved from one place to another.

The plecos got a new home last weekend. They were too busy for the tank and too big and messy, uprooting plants and tearing around the tank like monsters. They had even been fighting - or so I thought. When I gave them to a pleco lover found out that one was pregnant. Glad they left when they did. To replace them I got 2 flying foxes.

I did a water change (25%) to get rid of the pleco poo, and had to take the root out, so I saw all 3 clowns, but as soon as the root went back in they went back inside it and they won't come out. I occasionally see 1 hovering under the root but I never see the others and I am not going to be shining a light in there and scare them more. I blanched some zucchini for them and that didn't work, and they used to race out to eat their food - now nothing. What can I do?

Sorry this is so wordy. Thanks for the help.

[Emma Turner]

Clowns can be naturally reclusive during daylight hours, and especially when they are kept in very small groups. Once the tank has settled and you are sure there are no more problems, you might want to try adding some more again. Other tips would be to invest in some 'dither fish' which will swim out and about in the tank quite openly, and show the clowns that the coast is clear and it's safe for them to venture out - good choices are shoaling species of barbs, danios, tetras, rasboras etc. But do remember that clowns prefer subdued lighting, and you may want to add a blue moon light tube to come on just before the main lights get switched off. Then you can leave this on for a few hours in the evening and get to observe them under the dim moonlight - they will be much more active at this time. You'll also need to invest in a much bigger aquarium for them not too far in the distant future, as they grow to over 12" long and adults are very powerful fish which require a lot of swimming room.

On a side note, normal Flying Foxes (Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus) can become very boisterous and can easily stress other fish - especially in smaller tanks. For algae eating purposes, Siamese Flying Foxes (Crossocheilus siamensis) are considered as a much better choice as they are of better temperament. Other than that, you could try some Bristlenose catfish (Ancistrus sp) as they stay relatively small and will not become as clumsy and messy as the Plecostomus.

Emma

[Hell Fire]

Well my baby clowns were all over the place, out in the day happy etc, when they got ICh they hid most of the time and have been really out of sorts (just read clowns stuck what clows post!!). Now the ICh has nearly gone they have been out happy swimming again even in the day. They do love hiding as its natural. Dont worry too much, just check thay aint stuck!! Ahhhh

[peacefulfishie]

Emma & Hell Fire,

Thanks for the info. They used to be active during the day and the night, so that is why I have been concerned. So I tried something last night to see if it helps. I have an Aquaclear 300 filter on the left side of the tank and it moves the water well on that side but it is very gentle currents on the right side, where the root is. I have been researching other options to get more water going, and decided to add an airstone to the right side to get more movement, just to see if that would make a difference. After about 30 minutes of the added bubbles one of them came out and even sat there and let me talk to him.

This morning I peeked in there - the lights aren't on yet - and I saw all 3 of them swimming around. The tank is partially in front of a picture window that has mini blinds, so they get a bit of light in the morning before I turn on the main lights. Kind of a wake up call. I'm just glad to see that no one is stuck! I may leave it like this for a bit and then move the main filter to the middle, and remove the airstone. Not sure yet.

In this tank I also have 3 botia stratia, 2 leopard danios, 2 zebra danios, 4 glowlight tetras, 4 algae shrimp, and the 2 flying foxes. The woman at the LFS told me that the foxes were very good at cleaning up, and that they wouldn't cause a fuss in the peaceful tank, but they do dart around a lot. They are fun to watch. I wanted a BN or clown pleco, but after 2 different places I settled for the foxes. I'm going to wait awhile before adding anything else.

Thanks!