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i noticed this morning that on one of my clown loaches there was a mark on his side. It kind of looks like a scratch, except I would of thought it would have been a bit red if it was.

The mark is a whitish grey colour and can be seen better at different angles. it is on what I like to call the seam of a clown loach...if that makes any sense. Its only small and doesn't seem to be affecting him at all (he's still active and eating) but I thought that if it was something, i could catch it early.

the CL's are often fighting, mainly him and the bigger one in the tank, but this is the first time i have actually seen what appears to be an injury. Could a CL use its barbs to cut into another CL? In the past they have just nudged each other around a bit, but back off before any real damage is done.

the strange thing is that the particular CL that has this new mark is the same one that acted very sluggish a couple of weeks back, and didn't eat and only rarely came out of his hole. after a weekend away, i came back to find him healthy and as active as ever. Now I see this mark on him. Any ideas?

I sounds like a teroritoral dispute, do you have sufficient areas they can claim as their own rather than one area.

It also could be a scratch from something in the tank wood or rocks.

I would say keep a very close watch on it to see if it develops into any thing more or starts getting better.

Keith

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i think i have enough spaces for them. i have a hidey hole at either end of the tank and planted area that they can retreat behind if needed. also, there is a log that they are able to sufficiently hide themselves between too. I think in total, there are several spaces for them to claim. (i have 2 x 1.5 inch and 2 x 3-4 inch in a 50.5 gallon tank. I will be able to upgrade mid-next year)

They only ever seem to fight when there is the prospect of food. They are always quite peacable to one another the rest of the time.

I'll keep an eye out and let you know what happens.

your bigger one probably gray's out when you drop food in the tank

My clown loaches have nipped each other during these disputes.

On the same note, I had a quick question. Can clown loaches be territorial. One of the bigger guys (3 inches in size) guards a cave in a rock that I have at one end of the tank with his life. He will come out to eat, and go perch in front of the cave and not let anybody in. He is not aggressive otherwise, but wont even let the tiny clowns into the cave????

Mine was like that.

Hi nipped my YoYo loach that was 3 times the size of him, and guarded his little cave like nothing.

:%)

mine only become territorial when it comes to food. the rest of the time they act like great mates!