Loaches Online Forum

Thanks for the reply guys.

I thought all clown loaches are wild caught. Many online stores and articles says they are wild caught mainly because it's cheaper to catch them. I even thought about collecting weird pattern clown loaches but not anymore. I am not into mutants...

We tend to choose the "oddball" markings. I have several with the spot, and some with the saddle. Mine are incredibly deep bodied, although they weren't when I bought them (but they weren't especiall skinny, either). I would have thought pattern was entirely determined genetically, but growth rates could affect how the pattern develops, I suppose.

I think I may have had one loach develop a spot after I got him (he was maybe 2" when I got him). I've noticed they don't always have the spot on both sides.

I haven't noticed any social rejection of loaches with one pattern or the other by other members of the group.