Do clown Loaches clean other cichlids?

[Wildcat157]

Has anyone ever seen a clown loach cleaning another cichlids gill's?

 

[BIG-G]

I personally have not my CL’s are savages like a pack of wolves!
I doubt another fish would sit still with these guy ripping at their gills.

 

[Wildcat157]

Ok. Thanks.
Appreciate your experience with Loaches. I have been watching one of mine cleaning the gill's of a juvenile buttikoferi cichlid.
It reminds me of when I had some marine wrasses and they would do the same.
All my fish look and act healthy, but the Loach only does this with the one fish and the buttikoferi seems to tolerate it.

 

[BIG-G]

Ok. Thanks.
Appreciate your experience with Loaches. I have been watching one of mine cleaning the gill's of a juvenile buttikoferi cichlid.
It reminds me of when I had some marine wrasses and they would do the same.
All my fish look and act healthy, but the Loach only does this with the one fish and the buttikoferi seems to tolerate it.

I’ve had the same experience with saltwater with wrasses and shrimp.
I had a couple cleaner shrimp that would clean my hand anytime I was in the tank for maintenance.
I’m sure that it happens, I could see loaches picking parasites or dead tissue for an easy meal.
I just haven’t witnessed it with mine.
I’d say if the other fish sit still for it then it’s probably not bothering them to much.
Interesting observation.

 

[Redshark1]

Very interesting I never heard of this behaviour in Clown Loaches.

 

[Wildcat157]

I wasn't sure if this was common or rare behavior? From what I researched I couldn't find any information.
I will try to take a short video clip of it and see if I can figure out how to post it.
Thanks for response.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Never come across this with loaches of any kind

 

[Wildcat157]

I can't post a video. I have some pictures I will try to post. The loach seems to be picking at the gill's and around the mouth. It's difficult to get a good picture.
If anyone else has ever seen this behavior I would love to hear from you.
Thanks everyone.

 

[Fishman Dave]

How many clown loach do you have?
This behaviour to me is a loach thinking he has found a friend and confused that he thinks the cichlid is a loach.
This I have seen before in solitary loaches or loaches with other similar patterned fish.

 

[Wildcat157]

That's interesting. I have 5.