Odd clown loaches, anyone else see this before?

[Sacman31]

Ok well i was a lil sad when i got home tonight only to find one of my clown loaches (mulder) was stuck to the intake tube of my filter (as most dead fish end up).... well i reached in with my hand to pull him from it and as soon as i touch him he shot off and was swimming around, so i thought everything was ok and maybe he just got stuck to it and couldnt get off......but no, 10 minutes later he was back stuck to it so i watched him for a few minutes and we swam off again by himself with no prevoking only to drift closer and closeer till it sucked him to it again. Do you think my maybe he likes it there? becuase he has been stuck to it and swam off serveral more times and he seems to be doing it by choice! I was wondering if any one else has seen this before, i know they have their qwerky habits but this is a lil odd to me?

[Lady Hobbs]

Now that would be a new one unless he was dying and now and then got up enough strength to get away from it. They are quirkie little fish so who knows but one dying doesn't sound good.

[KcEE]

Any visible issues with the loach? What's the breathing like? Coloration?

[smaug]

I don't normally do this with out a reason but I'm checking out your signature.That is way too many fish for a 20 gal and clowns need more room then that not to mention the peacock eel.You are way overstocked ,even if you fish are all on the small side there natural behaviors demand more room then this.

[gm72]

I'm with Smaug. WAY overstocked. Will never work. The pleco alone, if a common variety, would need a bare minimum of a 55 gallon tank.

[Nightside_Eclipse]

Clown loaches to like to wedge themselves into small spaces to rest.

They'll also lay on their sides at times and look dead.

Put some sponge over the intake so he can't get stuck in there, and I hope you have a plan to move those fish to a bigger tank once they get bigger. haha ;)

[gm72]

I actually strongly recommend moving the fish before they get bigger. Don't make the mistake of stunting the fish.

[Crispy]

Your loach sticking to the intake is not normal at all. Something is definitely wrong with him for him to do that. QT the loach right away. Loaches are super sensitive and need the cleanest water possible. Sounds like a result of overstocking --> poor water quality --> dying fish

[domjd05]

Yeah I think you may be a bit overstocked there bud :22:

No worries it's a common mistake and I'm sure just about everybody here has done it.. hence the reason we are so good at pointing it out.

The loach is probably on its way out.. do a waterchange and thin out the tank in terms of stocking a bit... Quarantine it if you have a tank to do so, if not, def. do a waterchange at the least.

[Northernguy]

Its a common mistake made by many new people to the hobby!
You do need to do something about your situation and the sooner the better!
I know you did not post to get herped on but that is not a good set up.
A bigger tank is neccesary.Some great used deals out there!
Check out Craig's list in your area!Kijiji is good too!

[MonkeyPox]

Clowns are great fish, but they prefer a school and can get to be a foot and a half. They definitely need to be moved.

Post your water parameters and your filtration.