need some loach advice!

[osomxl]

I keep seeing conflicting information on this site and others in regards to the mature size of the clown loach. I see two different figures, 6 inches fully matured and 12 inches fully matured.

I would love to have a small school of clown loaches but I dont think that they would fit well in my 55 gallon that I am planning.

Does anyone have an idea of the growth rate of the clown loach e.g. how many inches per year?
From your experience, what are the size of your mature clown loaches?
Are yo-yo loaches a better alternative as all the online resources state a mature length of 5-6 inches?
Do yo-yo's have a similar personality compared to clowns?

Thanks in advance for your help! -Eric

[Algenco]

I think you'll find what your looking for in this thread


[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[osomxl]

I think you'll find what your looking for in this thread


[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Thanks Algenco. I read that post before and still have the above questions. I think a few juveniles would be nice and thier slow growth rate would be ideal for having in a 55 gallon tank, but I dont know what the real world experience is like. I have read that they can be quite curious and get themselves in some tight situations.

Do the Yoyo loaches act the same?

At what size would they outgrow the tank if there were three?

[Crispy]

They do grow very slow and you 'could' start with a school of smaller loaches in a 55. I'm sure their growth has many different factors (tank size, diet, etc), but my five fatties have gone from 2 inch loaches to 4-5 inch loaches in a little over a year (in a 130) and they've really bulked up.

[loachcoach]

If you're going to stay with the 55 gallon, go with smaller loaches. Polka dot loaches are as entertaining as the larger clowns, and can live in a 55 gallon for the entire lives. The striatas are also fun to watch.

If you're planning on getting a much larger tank in the near future, you could house a shoal of smaller clowns temporarily in the 55 gallon and transfer them to the larger tank.

Keep in mind, loaches enjoy fast moving water with lots of oxygen, so consider this when setting up your tank.

[toddnbecka]

It's really better to choose fish suitable to your tank in the first place than to have to give them up after they outgrow it. Behavior is pretty similar among the Botine species of loaches. However, clowns are much more attractive when they're small, but the color fades as they grow. Yoyo's retain their color/pattern regardless of size, while polka dot (aka angelicus or Burmese border loaches) actually become more attractive as they grow/mature.

[osomxl]

Thanks for all your input. sometimes the species profiles are vague and there is a lot of conflicting information. I agree that it is better to chose the best fish for the tank. I have now discovered three more species of loach that I hadnt seen before on this site, Yoyos, Polka dot and zebras. I will now be keeping an eye out for these species at the pet stores and online. I am trying to be a responsible fish guardian!:)

[Jellygirl]

Unfortunately I was unable to follow the link in an earlier post here. But I was of the understanding that clown loaches grow to be about 14 inches long and can live up to a ripe old age of 30 years.

Am I wrong then?

Jellygirl

[Crispy]

Unfortunately I was unable to follow the link in an earlier post here. But I was of the understanding that clown loaches grow to be about 14 inches long and can live up to a ripe old age of 30 years. Am I wrong then?


that info is correct.. but it takes the clowns many years to get that big and most people can't raise them that long.

[nick]

Hi have both types of loaches you listed they are both ful grown and the clown is about 8in. long and the yoyo is 6in and much thinner . They both have very different personalities, the yoyo is hyper and greedy the clown is layed back and will stand his ground against the yoyo

[mac]

My Zebras are 5 inches long. They are not to stocky but not thin. Got some nice color. I find them to be quite rambuncouse towards other fish. If the Red Tail Shark tries to chase the Loach the Loaches will fight back till the shark retreats.

mac

[sharonm]

Hi! I have a yo yo loach, 2 sand loaches, and 4 Kuhli in my 55. I had 3 yo yo's but lost 2 to an outbreak of ick!!! I really enjoy watching the yo yo's, they are always very busy, more so than the Kuhli. The sand loaches I have are quite busy also and fun to watch. I personally would stick to a loach that wouldn't outgrow your tank. There are very nice variations of loaches out there. When I had my 29 gallon, instead of the clown loaches I went with panda cories, 6 of them, and they were also fun to watch and very busy all the time. When I get my dream tank, my 125 and transfer everything to the bigger tank, then yes, I am going to have a small school of clown's as I think they are the neatest fish. The yo-yo loach, however, is always into everything and very entertaining.