You want to ensure that you’re doing your best to care for all of the fish in your fish tank. If you have clown loaches that you’re caring for, then you know that they’re generally not that tough to take care of.
Even if they are hardy fish, there are going to be things that can go wrong. For example, the fish could get sick if something is off in the aquarium.
Have you noticed that your clown loaches are changing color at certain times? Do clown loaches normally do this, or is it an indication that something is seriously wrong?
Read on to learn about clown loaches and whether they change color. You’ll have a much better understanding of what is happening once you’ve gotten all of the necessary information.
Why Do Clown Loaches Change Color?
Clown loaches can indeed change color, and it’s something that often worries new fish owners. You might look at your fish and notice that it appears far less colorful than usual.
There are many reasons why this can occur, but the term used to describe this is “graying out.” Essentially, there are certain things that can happen in a fish tank that will cause a fish to change its coloration.
Clown Loach Graying Out
A clown loach might have a duller or “grayed out” coloration when it is experiencing stress. Many things can cause clown loaches to become stressed.
For example, the fish could be dealing with bully fish in the tank or it might be that you have water parameter issues that need to be addressed. The fish changing color can also happen for more natural reasons.
Clown loaches are sometimes going to spar with each other to determine the pecking order of the group. During these fights, some of the fish might change coloration.
It isn’t clear exactly why this happens. There is some talk of dominant or submissive fish being more likely to have a “grayed out” appearance, but there’s conflicting information on both sides.
The only thing that you need to know is that this can occur. The coloration changes might have to do with changes in the mood of the fish, aggression levels, and stress.
That’s really all that is known about this issue at this time. It’s possible that more concrete information will come to light if researchers decide to study clown loaches in-depth.
Why Are My Clown Loaches Pale?
For the most part, clown loaches looking pale can be associated with high stress levels. You should take this as a sign that there are things that you need to change in your fish tank.
You might have certain things wrong in the aquarium that are causing the clown loaches to feel stressed. One of the most likely scenarios is that the water quality is poor.
Clown loaches are hardy and tolerant fish that can live in a variety of different water conditions. They aren’t as picky as some other fish about water temperature or the pH balance.
They still have acceptable ranges that you need to consider, though. You want to keep the temperature of the water between 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
The pH balance of the water needs to remain between 6.0 and 7.5. If the numbers are higher or lower, then it’ll cause the fish to experience stress.
Bully fish in a community tank can stress your clown loaches as well. Try to think about what might be causing your fish stress and then do your best to turn things around.
Why Is My Clown Loach Turning White?
If you think that your clown loach is turning white, then it’s almost surely because you changed the water chemistry very fast. This is known as osmotic shock.
You might have had the pH balance fairly low and then altered things to make it much higher. When you do this suddenly, it can easily shock a fish.
If you need to make changes to the fish tank, then it’s likely safer to do it more gradually. This will be less likely to cause the fish shock and it shouldn’t turn white.
Why Is My Clown Loach Turning Black?
It’s not unusual for clown loaches to get a bit darker over time. However, there have been situations when people have been shocked by their fish getting substantially darker.
If your fish appears to be turning black, then it might be that you have problems with your fish tank. It could be that your ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels are substantially higher than they should be.
It’d be wise to take the time to test the water and see how things look. If things are high, then getting the levels back to normal might help to resolve the issues.
Some enthusiasts have mentioned that carbon issues might be the problem as well. You might need to look into this if you can’t figure out what is wrong.
Certain diseases might cause fish to have black patches or change appearance, too. Monitor the fish to see if it shows signs of being ill.
If you’re at a loss for what is happening, you can always turn to an exotic veterinarian for help. They should be able to diagnose any issues and help you figure out a treatment plan if the fish is indeed sick.
Final Thoughts
It’s possible for clown loaches to change color for different reasons. The most common situation involves clown loaches graying out.
This occurs for many reasons including stress, mood changes, and aggression level changes. Clown loaches often gray out when they’re sparring with each other to determine the pecking order of the group.
These fish might also turn white if you make significant alterations to water chemistry. Fast changes will shock the fish and can cause it to turn white.
Avoiding situations like this will be as easy as remembering to make gradual changes instead of fast ones. You’re generally always better off trying to keep the water parameters steady and at the sweet spot that clown loaches enjoy.
If a clown loach is turning black, then it might be that you have elevated ammonia levels. It could also be an issue with carbon in your aquarium.
Hopefully, this information will help you to determine what is going on in your situation. Just try not to worry too much because the coloration changes could be perfectly natural.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.