Re: [GSAS-Member] Clown Loach Maturity and Skittishness

["Hess, Clay A" <clay.a.hess@boeing.com>]

Matt,

Actually, I was thinking it says I like clown loaches......all my other
fish in the past I have grown bored with over time.  Thus, all the fish
but the clowns have either passed away, been given away or traded off
for others.  There is something about clown loaches that has kept my
interest for over 20 years.  The clown loaches I have, came from another
African Cichlid breeder who had had them for about 5 years prior to me.
Like you, the only other fish I have had that come close to staying with
me that long are my Synodontis cats.  One or two of them are nearing the
20 year mark.  But, I have been thinking about getting rid of them of
late.

Clay

-----Original Message-----
From: matt kaufman [mailto:igotadose@hotmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 9:35 AM
To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat
Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] Clown Loach Maturity and Skittishness

20 years is impressive for any pet, let alone fish. Yes, Koi can live
over 100 years, but still that says a lot for the person keeping the
fish. We had a housecat that lived to be at least 26.
 
 
I had a Synodontis angelicus that I owned for around 15 years when I
gave it away in 2003 (maybe 14 years, I don't remember). I gave it away
along with its tank - yes, it was a bit odd dedicating a tank to 1 fish,
but hey. It's still around as far as I knew as of last year, but it
doesn't move much. Still doesn't like most tankmates. Wasn't that big
either.
 
I have seen some colonies of tetras that went back 30+ years (of course,
they were self-sustaining but were all basically offspring of some wild
collected fish from the mid-1970s) and have seen some 4 year old
so-called 'annual killies,' but still, 20 year old clown loaches is
cool. Congratulations on quite an achievement
 
 



> Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:57:40 -0700> From: clay.a.hess@boeing.com> 
> To: gsas-member@thekrib.com> Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] Clown Loach 
> Maturity and Skittishness> > Shango,> > I have three clown loaches I 
> have had now for about 20 years. In that> time I have found that there

> are a number of things that make them more> "Active" or skittish and 
> some things that help them seem to settle down.> > Sooooo, things that

> make them active:> > New fish, especially new loaches> Bright lights> 
> Little cover for them to hide within> Poor water conditions> Having to

> look for food> > > Things that make them settle down:> > Size.....not 
> sure if this is age related since the two occur together.> Good 
> cover....my 100 gallon tank is full of big plants that they can sit> 
> under the leaves of, and they seem to love that....as well as hiding 
> in> and around large pieces of wood.> Fish that do not occupy the same

> strata within the aquarium.> A full stomach......kinda like me, if I 
> eat a big meal I don't move> much.> Illness> > > So, this is a short 
> list......there are many more things that impact> their activity but 
> some of these I think the aquarist can control. For> instance, the 
> feeding is an easy one. The lighting is another. The> cover within the

> tank is one. Water conditions should be easy to> maintain, and this 
> one I cannot stress enough (pun intended). My> loaches do very well 
> when the water quality is good, but, as it declines> you can see the 
> change in how they react to it.> > Hope this helps some,> > Clay> > > 
> > > > -----Original Message-----> From: Shango Los 
> [mailto:Shango@shangolos.com] > Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 8:10 
> AM> To: 'Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat'> Subject: 
> [GSAS-Member] Clown Loach Maturity and Skittishness> > Hello All,> > >

> > I have a school of 5 Clown fish and I got them about 8 weeks ago 
> from my> LFS. They are small and look young but I don't know how 
> young. Right> now they are VERY skittish. If I come anywhere near the 
> tank they> disappear to the back of the tank under cover. This does 
> get tiring> when trying to enjoy their antics.> > > > My friend has 
> some that are at least a year older than mine and they are> not 
> skittish at all and actually nap out in the open and do that> cuddling

> thing Clown Loaches do.> > > > Is this skittishness typical of young 
> Clown Loaches? If so, when do> they tend to grow out of it? I am 
> wondering if it is the tank> environment that is leaving them feeling 
> unsafe or if it is simply their> youth. I have been unsuccessful 
> finding anyone addressing this topic> online.> > > > Any insight would

> be great. I know some of you like Jack are really> into these sweet 
> fish.> > > > Thanks> > Shango> > > > 
> ________________________________________________________> > > > Shango

> Los> > > > Phone: 206-595-9006> > Fax: 206-729-5271> > 
> www.ShangoLos.com> > www.SunbreakShines.com> > > > 
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