It was since last water change, roughly three weeks ago, that we noticed that our two clown loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus) were missing. We couldn’t find them literally anywhere in our tank. This is quite a bizarre feeling when you have just a 180 liters (that’s 65 gallons) aquarium. We looked everywhere as thoroughly as we could outside the tank. Of course they could not escape the tank anywhere. We even thought they were lying dead somewhere so naturally we got very worried.

But as it turned out, they just really enjoyed our new stumps (or rhizomes?). By nature the clown loaches like hiding in small holes and inside stumps and I think I just should be really happy that we can provide an environment they enjoy. So a few days back I changed the water again, as I use to,  and there they were – both of our Clown loaches! Now after the water change the other one is happily swimming around but most of the time enjoying the hiding places around the stumps. I reorganized the stumps for them again so I am sure they like the new place even more. The other clown loach is still hiding most of the time, but I am sure both of them are out during the night eating. That is why I give them bottom feeding tablets which are of course gone in the morning.

So if you wonder where your Clown loach has gone and it seems you can’t find it anywhere – I am sure it’s ok! It’s just probably hiding in some hole you can’t see without moving stuff. As it turned out, our clown loaches were under a bark that had a hole in the middle of the bottom of the bark. It was impossible to spot them without taking the bark out from the tank (which I did in order to gravel vacuum the place). They just enjoy small holes and places to hide during the day, so it might be a good thing if they enjoy such a place that you created for them.