Colour changing and fighting in clown loaches.

[daginge]

I have 5 very beautiful Clown Loaches which I just noticed are changing from black and red to grey and red and appear to be fighting, they change colour as you are watching them then change back! Quite bizarre, anyone had any similar experience?

[boxtops]

Are they getting into mating mode? It's been a few years since I kept tropical fish, but certainly some changed colour and got more aggressive when it was potentially mating time.

[daginge]

Dunno BT first time I've encountered this in Clowns!

[divegirl]

Clowns will lose and change colour when stressed, they are relatively peaceful fish and when kept appropriately and in a big enough tank they will not fight, that's not to say that they won't but as a rule they get along just fine.
How big is you tank? For 5 Clowns you should be looking at a minimum of 80 usg, these fish and beautiful and personable but do have the ability to grow to 12 inches, a fact generally over looked when being sold!

Lisa x

[daginge]

They're in a 63 USG tank at the minute and this is the first time I have had any problems. All OK and back to normal today!

[divegirl]

Good to hear! One of mine got stuck in a bit of wood a few weeks back and I had to saw him out....he lost his colour for days...stoopid fishy!

Lisa x

[daginge]

Ha Ha! Oh how we laugh, but if that was real life i.e. back in Borneo it'd be goodnight Krusty! Hey Hey Hey!