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Ok, I never knew I would have to ask this, but I have got these two 7 inch clown loaches that wont eat anything. They havent eaten in like 10 days now. They wont even touch worms.

The funny thing is, they never touch their mouths to the gruond as well. They are otherwise healthy and school with the rest.

I am assuming they must be wild caught and set in their ways, what can I do to get them to eat.

PLEASE HELP!!!

Drop in some live snails. That should tempt them.

A bunch of decent sized Ramshorns or Apple Snails should have your fussy Clown Loaches eating. Once they've had a snail meal, they may then become more adaptable once they realise that their new home provides them with decent food and shelter. Of course, it's possible that snails might be the ONLY thing these fussy ones eat, but usually, once a fish starts eating in the aquarium, its appetite broadens. The only exceptions to this I know of are some extremely fussy marine fishes that won't sway from their chosen diet EVER, such as certain Butterfly Fishes that will only eat live coral polyps (and shouldn't be kept except by veteran aquarists trying to crack the secret of weaning them off coral polyps - preferably backed up by a reseach lab!).


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I think most are caught wild these days especially the larger ones. How long have you had them? I have never seen mine not go crazy over any food.

Snails sound like a very good idea. MIne are continually digging up the substrate and shifting it.
Is it possible that both are males and have bitten each other like this photo I took this some time ago of their behaviour outside the large cave between two of the larger CL

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Attached Image:

Clown loach behaviour at cave

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I forgot to add they have very powerful jaws considering what I have seen them do to some of the food I have given them.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

IF you've already tried plenty of meaty foods try a slice of cucumber. All my loaches go nuts for it. The yoyos will devour a large chunk in less than 2hours.

Keith, it may be possible that they have been in a fight, because when I got them, they had pimples on their noses and no barbels at all, but since they were healthy, I decided to take a risk on them. Their barbels have grown back and the noses have healed.

I've tried all sorts of sinking wafers and pellets. They sampled some tubifex worms - maybe like 4 worms each on Saturday, but didnt touch the blood worms on Sunday.

The only thing left for me to try are snails and cucumber. They still dont touch the gravel in the aquarium which is very strange because the others seem to dig ferociously at all times.

Another thing, I spoke to the LFS that I got these from and he said they were earlier in a pond. I may not have got them straight from the wild because they are very fat which is not how I got my other clowns.

Mine love all their foods. In My Profile there is a list of all the goodies I have fed the tank. They can rip a full lettuce leaf to pieces within 45-60 minutes, they also love a soft pear core. I tie one end with 15lb fishing line and let it sink to about mid level, the pear MUST be soft orv they will not touch it at all.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Here's the thing. I have had no trouble feeding any of my other clown loaches, but the two new fellows wont touch any food. And to make matters worse, I have an ich problem in the tank. Noticed it yesterday. I am pretty sure the new boys didnt bring it along because I have had them for two weeks now. Have medicated the tank and have crossed my fingers