Loaches Online Forum

I have a question, or more so an observation. I have 3 Marble Hatchets housed with 5 Yasuhikotakia modesta, 5 Ottos and 1 Pleco. I notice that 99.9% of the time the hatchets are at the top of the tank but for some reason I have noticed that one of the hatchets seems to be swimming to mid to lower sections of the tank. I'm not sure of the sexing of them, So I guess it could be possible that they are looking for spawning grounds. I am hoping it is not a illness, but they all look good in health. the one that is swimming towards the bottom does seem a bit larger but can't tell if it is bloated or pregnant. Has anyone else keep these guys and have noticed similar behavior?

Thanks

Hatchets are schooling fish and are generally considered to be shy. Do you have floating plants? If not, I think that is partially the cause for the odd behaviour, with the other half being that they're not in a school. I consider 6 to be a minimum number for a schooling species, with 10-15 being a better minimum.