I know this doesn't have much to do about cichlids or catfish but I need help!!

[Sam M.]

Hi I am conducting an

experiment to test schooling habits of fish and if fiish of different species would school

together. My two test subjects are Clown Loaches and Tiger Barbs. I have 3 of each in a 10 gallon

tank and 6 of each in a 20 gallon tank. They are filtered by "Elite" sponge filters and

heated at 75 degrees F. Any way my problem is this my tiger barbs and clown loaches are all hudled

in a giant ball in both tanks in one of the corners of the tanks. Is this normal behavior? From

what I have read people say tiger barbs are very active mid-dwelling fish. They seem to be doing

everthing my clown loaches are doing which proves my experiment a success, but I still don't

understand why my loaches are acting this way. I know they are nocturnal but most people say they

are fairly active during the day.

[Lisachromis]

Are there any hiding

spots in the tanks? Though it sounds counterproductive, it actually works. More hiding spots often

means the fish are more visible as they don't feel so threatened.

Also, if they are

newly in the tank, they may not be completely adjusted to being in the tank. Or, they may be

reacting to the water chemistry of a newly setup tank.

Being as they are similarly

coloured, they may be treating each other as part of the same school of fish and reacting to that

as well.

Just a few things to think about.

[Sam M.]

Lisa

Thanks.

I am very appreciative of your advice. I recently checked my water chemistry and everything is

ideal. (PH 7.5 Nitrate 0 Nitrite 0 Hardness 100 ) I made sure it was similar to were I purchased

them. As for them having no hiding spots I must say there are none at all. This is because as you

said clown loaches are more productive with hiding places but I planned that the loaches would

follow the barbs not the other way around. So I will try adding more hiding places and see if that

works thanks again and I will update if any changes occur.