Deformed clown loach

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Both Jack Dempsey are about 18 month old. Bigger one tryied to eat albino Cory twice but never snack small Clown loaches:

1st time (april 3, 2007):



2nd time (september 15, 2007):


Since that I had an incisive talk to him and he promissed me never to do that again.

[starsplitter7]

I assume the Cories didn't survive the encounter? I have heard that Cories have killed their predators when they get stuck in their throat.

I am sure the Dempsey both appreciated the Corydectomy and really resented being held in death grip with pliers down its throat. You would think that would be enough incentive not to eat Cories.

At my LFS they lost all the big Emerald Cories to a Bichir that was only about 7 inches long. I couldn't figure out how the bichir managed to swallow them.

At a different LFS I was looking at a 2" Golden Killi. And I was picking up 1" cardinal tetras. The employee promised the Golden Killi was a perfect companion. Then she looked in the bag and the Killi had the Neon half way swallowed. She pulled the Neon out and dropped him back in the water. I went home with silver tipped tetras.

[Marcos Mataratzis]

First Cory survived 3 days but passed away. Second one died same day. Jack was about 6" that time. He is now 9" but guess my Vulcan Death Grip seams to have work on him.

[starsplitter7]

I am glad that your Jack has learned his lesson. I am glad you were able to save him.

Take care of your little Clown. He may be different but he is certainly special. He's part Clown/part Beluga. I think he's great.

What does your Jack eat now that Cories are off his diet?

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Well,

Both Jacks eats Tetra Ciclhid Sticks and, two times a week, chicken chest (boilled in water). All loaches here love chicken chest as well.
You can see one of them getting a huge piece of it on my new video at my signature.

[starsplitter7]

The video is fantastic. Absolutely enjoyable to watch.

I saw the clown swipe the chicken. You can almost hear him yelling "Mine, Mine, Mine!", but I am sure saying what ever the Portuguese equivalent is. Wonderful! Thanks!

The Jacks almost seem annoyed by the frenetic activity of the loaches. Like they are dignified and sitting back trying not be involved in all the silliness.

So did the same Jack try to eat the Cories, or did they each try it one time, and decided the Vulcan death grip and pliers weren't worth it?

[starsplitter7]

I just reread your message, and see it was the same Jack that was the culprit both times. Tsk, tsk. Hopefully he learned his lesson.

[Marcos Mataratzis]

You can almost hear him yelling "Mine, Mine, Mine!", but I am sure saying what ever the Portuguese equivalent is

Indeed. They almost say... "Meu, meu, meu!" (in Portuguese).

Yes, bigger Jack tryied twice. Smaller one is blind. He probably could not even try to get a Cory. I feed him every night in my hands as he cannot see the food. Sometimes it drops in front of his mouth and he bites the water.





Of course, after feeding him, I take advantage of the situation to caress him a bit.



Sorry Emma for the off topic...

[starsplitter7]

What a lucky fish to have you! Thanks for the great pictures.

I also apologize to Emma for going offtopic.

[Emma Turner]

No worries, Marcos and Tanja! It's all interesting stuff.

Marcos - your little dolphin loach is virtually identical to the one here! Its still as outgoing as ever and is feeding well. I have thought about bringing it home, but with that, as ever, is always a risk. My group have been together for so long and I would be devastated if anything got introduced to the tank accidentally (I know it shouldn't, but I am extra wary of this, considering that years ago I had a major wipe-out similar to what Mad Duff experienced not so long ago and it was so emotionally draining). I'm half thinking about putting him in our display tank at work though - plenty of other clown buddies in there and I could keep an eye on him then. Helen and David had a look at him on Saturday in the stock tank.

Emma

[daspricey]

Helen and David had a look at him on Saturday in the stock tank.

Yeah, he looked healthy enough and was shoaling nicely with the other clowns.
Can't say i would pick him out of the tank instead of the others but i wouldn't take him back or kill him if he was one that Steve (Or whoever) caught.
I was unlucky enough to get a male odessa barb from my lfs with a slightly deformed tail a while back but he is more colourful than the others i had and is a great little character.

As mentioned, just don't let the czech get any, i can just imagine it in a lfs a tank of these called fancy clown loach or dolphin loach.

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Hi Emma,

I have thought about bringing it home, but with that, as ever, is always a risk. My group have been together for so long and I would be devastated if anything got introduced to the tank accidentally

Yes, I know exactly what you´re talking about. Maybe keeping him at your display tank for a few months is time enough for you to get him to your main tank.

Marcos.

[Tinman]

This is in no way worth risking in your tank with Marge .It would take a very special loach for that and this falls way short of that. I can not think of any reason to disturb that set up no matter the loach actually IMHO.
Your display tank would be a possibility but with all the fish and effort in that I would not consider it myself but yer a softie .

Leave it in the stock tank and maybe get it one of those little helmets so it doesn't bang its noggin' anymore.

People may not realize the time,money and effort in your home tank. It is the nicest collection of Clowns I have ever seen bar none . I would not even share a net, nor a bucket nor anything to avoid any risk to the Taj Mahal of Loachdom. The Queen of the loaches has no reason for this jester in her court All hail Marge

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Hail Marge!!!

Vote Tinman for president!!!

[Doc]

If I lived closer I'd take him no problems.