Hey all. I'm in Cali right now visiting the folks and decided to do some maintenance on their TruVu 55g. When I got here, it had only 2 huge platies, 1 male guppy, 1 molly, 2 clown loaches about 4" long, and a red sailfin pleco about 9-10" long. I basically redid the entire canister (which hadn't been opened in about a year!) and did a 50% WC. The tank had been functioning on regular water changes, the nasty canister, and a UGF. Parameters were still fine (amazingly). I rearranged the rocks and driftwood and added some fake plants, as well as an AC HOB filter. Then I went to the store and got some platies, a couple mollies, and 8 priscilla tetras.
Soon after adding them to the tank, one of the clown loaches started swimming in the upper water column and was actually chasing after some of the fish. I thought it was benign until it DOVE after a platy and took out its eyes! And then chomped on them!! The poor fish was spiraling and trying to get its bearings and I felt SO awful that I ended up putting it to sleep. Then the same loach started diving at other fish and I immediately netted it and now the net is hanging at the top the tank with the loach in it. The other loach is just chillin in the tank and not going after any of the fish. But both of them are goin to the LFS as soon as it opens.
I mean... wth?? I thought clown loaches were mainly shy and peaceful! I've had them for years and years in various tanks with various tank mates and I've never seen anything like this. Can anyone shed some light on why this may have happened?? I know fish act on instinct, but... whoa.
Soon after adding them to the tank, one of the clown loaches started swimming in the upper water column and was actually chasing after some of the fish. I thought it was benign until it DOVE after a platy and took out its eyes! And then chomped on them!! The poor fish was spiraling and trying to get its bearings and I felt SO awful that I ended up putting it to sleep. Then the same loach started diving at other fish and I immediately netted it and now the net is hanging at the top the tank with the loach in it. The other loach is just chillin in the tank and not going after any of the fish. But both of them are goin to the LFS as soon as it opens.
I mean... wth?? I thought clown loaches were mainly shy and peaceful! I've had them for years and years in various tanks with various tank mates and I've never seen anything like this. Can anyone shed some light on why this may have happened?? I know fish act on instinct, but... whoa.
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