Loaches Online Forum

I dare to publish my hypothesis right after the specialist's one ...

I hope I don't end up in ...

I observed, that the clicking occurs after/during opening their mouth. I believe, they are able to create some kind of sucktion. By opening their mouth quick/sharp, after "sucking", that noise is made, most likely amlpified by the swimmblader which may be the resonating body.

Any good?

The Y. Caudipunctata have a catching game. Whenever one would be able to bite the other one, it clicks (at the spot where it could have biten), to communicate "got you!". When all 5 are joining this game, it sounds like a row of firecrackers getting off, inside the tank.

bslindgren wrote:.............but one possibility for why they do it may be to stun or flush out prey, e.g., small crustaceans.........I would assume they normally feed mostly on live creepy crawlies, in which case the clicking may be of adaptive value when they feed.

mickthefish wrote:i have a theory that it's the jaw that makes the clicking noise, having been bit by the big kub, it's like a parrot bite so there some strength in them

From my own observations the combination of the two above quotes make the most sense to me.

The.Dark.One wrote:.......or it is produced by the sub orbital spine locking in and out of place.

When my fish are clicking there's no apparent movement from the suborbital spines but, after reading this suggestion I will attempt to observe more closely

I have never owned botias (yet...a BIG YET ), but it seems with my adult weather loaches that they click most when sucking in food. I have been continually surprised by how much food they can actually suck into their mouths...half an Omega One freeze-dried tubifex worm cube, nearly a quarter of a defrosted block of Hikari bloodworm cube is about how much!! I put a couple snails in from my other tank the other day.., they are about 3/4 inch round, and these are too big, however, though I saw them trying at first. They do not click for algae wafers, either Hikari or Omega One. I think it is entirely possible that botias and cobitas click in different ways or for different reasons.
It is definitely enjoyable to hear them clicking, especially since they seem to do it most when they are happy!
I find this conversation very interesting and will check back frequently!
soul-hugger

wasserscheu wrote: ... I observed, that the clicking occurs after/during opening their mouth. I believe, they are able to create some kind of sucktion. ...

I dare to upgrade my hypotheses to a "sound" observation. They were clicking during stamping out those holes.

I would certainly agree, my guys click when "pecking" at cucumber, wafers, plants or each other.

I caught them on video a moment ago after throwing a couple of algae wafers in for them.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KQC_wF0XXvs

I've been thinking about this off and on for a while now. I began keeping a saltwater reef tank about 4 years ago and came across something in a reef critter that may be similar to what causes the famous Botia click. Especially since the click my Botias make actually causes the algae wafer to move. The likely cause I suspect is the collapse of a cavitation bubble. Pistol Shrimp use it to stun prey, and since it most frequently occurs with loaches connected to feeding behavior or aggression it seems to me to be at the top of the list of likely explanations.

So this wild clicking is "Stun the cucumber! Stun the Cucumber!"

I find it very interesting.

When i was working at my LFS, I paired up pistol shrimp with yellow watchman gobies for a happy, safe relationship. What a cool relationship.

You might be interested in this new research on the clicking

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

My Modesta's are quite clickly, they certainly do it for territory. Yasuhikotakia eos aka. Sun loach are even more clicky. I had 6 (sadly 3 now) with 5 Skunk loaches and i started to think my other tank sounded like a gigier counter

Howdy, guys. The largest agreed on cause for the clicking is believed to be the snail tooth or teeth. Teeth used to crack the shells of snails and other small critters with a hard casing. They tend to click for a number of reasons. First and foremost seems to be over food. Other reasons are things like play time, territorial debates, etc. I have several clickers, the loudest of which is my sun loach, who can be heard from across the room in my 180gallon tank over all of the filtration and bubblers and everything else. He usually clicks at new foods or the tasty stuff and while chasing after my black shark. He can be heard clicking as he digs new tunnels in the drift wood as well. Tell the missus to calm down, your aquarium is nowhere near broken, you just have talkative fish.

My Syncrossus loaches don't typically click for food but click over territory all the time. Usually I hear a quick burst of clicks, 3-6 in just a second or two. I assume it's the two loaches having the dispute. Someone has dared to sit in front of someone else cave.