Questions about Clown Loaches

[GeneralGoldeneye]

Am I able to put Clown Loaches with my fancy guppy's I have???
I have never had Loaches so I don't know how they would act toward them

[Gemini]

What size tank do you want to put them in?
CLs are fairly easy going fish. I can't imagine them taking down a guppy. I've had them in with 2cm cory fry and they don't even look at them.
With CLs - the more the better. If you only have one or two you never see them. Get a group and watch them tumble over each other and squish into spots together.

[Gayle]

Update your sig Golden!!!!

[Goodbye]

Clown Loaches should be in a large tank. Around 120g or more. They prefer to be in agroups of 5 or more and get 12" long. The do however grow slowly. That making it possible to keep a few in a smaller tank until they out grow it. Just make sure the tank is not smaller then a 35g.

I dont know how it would react to guppies. Mine are aggressive towards my cherry barbs, but that may be because I keep a single specimen.

[Crispy]

Clowns wouldn't bother the guppies much... get a big enough school of them (5 or more) and they'll be too busy with themselves to care about little guppies around. If the tank is big enough the clowns should thrive and feel comfortable since there would be nothing to pick on them.

[Deleted User]

Clowns won't bother the guppies but they will seek out any fry and eat them.

So if you want to keep your guppy fry loaches are not a good idea.:ssmile:

[GeneralGoldeneye]

they are in a 75 gal tank

[Wild Turkey]

they are in a 75 gal tank

Most people are gonna tell you thats the bare minimum for clowns (depending on dimensions) they can get close to 2 feet in some cases. I wont say dont do it, but I will say that 6 or so clowns is a large chunk of bioload for a 75, its going to me the main attraction so to speak.

[whitbyrob]

I have two clown loaches in same tank as 6 guppies and they never even look at them.

[Lady Hobbs]

I've never heard of 2 ft clown loaches. Even Marge, the famous internet loach, is less than a foot.

Loaches live for 20-30 years. I suppose loaches that grow up in their own environment and have lived a long time can reach some impressive sizes but I just don't see it in home tanks unless you have a 1000 gallon tank. Loaches eat constantly in the wild and don't get feed like that in home aquariums.

[Wild Turkey]

I've never heard of 2 ft clown loaches. Even Marge, the famous internet loach, is less than a foot.

Loaches live for 20-30 years. I suppose loaches that grow up in their own environment and have lived a long time can reach some impressive sizes but I just don't see it in home tanks unless you have a 1000 gallon tank. Loaches eat constantly in the wild and don't get feed like that in home aquariums.

All true.

But to clarify:

I said "close to 2 feet" and Im not saying you cant keep them in a 75, im saying thats a large chunk of the bioload for a fish that likes to hide quite a bit, and personally I think that any loach or bottom feeder that can grow to 1.5ft is going to prefer a tank with different dimensions as opposed to the 75 or 125 even.

You are right, they are very very slow growing and you wont be dealing with max length for a long time. But, in the same respect since they can live 30+ years, You have to admit the max length that most people are giving out on sites is probably a bit shy of what is possible with good care in the home aquarium.



Even the site that marge is on cites 16." as max size. (2 inches shorter than the width of the 75)

When peoples O's hit 10" we tell them its time to ditch the 55. (also, 2" shorter than the width of its tank)

That was my train of thought on the dimensions.

[Crispy]

I see no problem with clowns in a 125. Thats 18"... plenty of room for a group of loaches...
planning on having a fish for 30 years is a bit ridiculous IMO. Too many people harassing newbies over max fish sizes I think...

[Wild Turkey]

(hopefully) without contributing to an argument, I feel that If you purchase a pet that lives 30 years, you should plan on having it for 30 years, or have a plan to rehome it. Just like a dog, or any other pet.

I dont feel that advising as such, or expressing your opinions, (even if i said you need a 500 gallon)or explaining my reasoning is harassment. No one has been harsh to the op here imo

[Crispy]

(hopefully) without contributing to an argument, I feel that If you purchase a pet that lives 30 years, you should plan on having it for 30 years, or have a plan to rehome it. Just like a dog, or any other pet.

I dont feel that advising as such, or expressing your opinions, (even if i said you need a 500 gallon)or explaining my reasoning is harassment. No one has been harsh to the op here imo

No, not you WT, but seems as though alot of newbies are being told not to buy certain fish when they have adequate tanksize... granted, some fish are for experienced hobbyists and it's good to tell the newbies such, but I see a great deal being made about min. tank requirements. Even experienced fishkeepers aren't going to have a fish 30 years (very rare). IMO, a 125 is fine for a group of adult loaches... even if it takes 10 years to get there. It's ridiculous to say that someone should not buy clown loaches without a 200 gallon tank.

[Wild Turkey]

Its Np, I was just commenting on your choice of words I got what you meant.

I Gotta agree with pretty much that whole statement

[Crispy]

Its Np, I was just commenting on your choice of words I got what you meant.

I Gotta agree with pretty much that whole statement

sorry bout my choice of words... I was just frustrated and didn't mean to take it out on you. You're a big help to many on AC and a well respected member!
...my apologies...

[mac]

I do agree here with regards to new members being told not to get certain fish for thanks which may be the right size for a while ect. BUt who know what they will do? Whether they will keep the fish in that size tank for it's life or will they change the fish to larger tanks when required. IMO to be for warned, or told not to keep some type o fish is better than being told that it will be okay.

Everyone has problems in life. Who knows they may not be able to get rid of the fish, or up grade the tank, and wont kill it so that it wont suffer. These things all need to be taken into consideration. IMO careful though has to be taken in to consideration about fish that get over 10 inches. Also the advice given.

Depending on what the person wants, and how prepared they are then that will help to shape the answer IMO.

Now as for fish being kept a long time I think if you are going to keep fish keep them till they die of old age. Just like any other pet. And if you can find some way t give them on to some one who can look after then for the full life time if you can't.

So just keeping a fish for one year, and it's life span could be 30 years is stupid. More so if you knew it would live that long.

As for Clown Loaches I have heard that there are a few either at 2 ft long or very very close to it in Dunedin South Island NZ. They are suppose to be in large tank over 1000 gallons.

mac

[domjd05]

Mac you have made some good points.... I know people who have kept clown loaches for several years in tanks as tiny as a 55g and they never grew to 2ft... a fish will not grow nearly as big in capitivity as it will in the wild.. (not the case with all fish obviously..) but I think clowns can fit into that category.

the same person only had 3 of them... seemed fine to me... not the ideal setting but it WAS successfull.. still has them to this day.

[mac]

Mac you have made some good points....

Thanks.:22:

I know people who have kept clown loaches for several years in tanks as tiny as a 55g and they never grew to 2ft...

Well it dose take time for them to grow that size. But they do grow fast the larger the tank. Reason they are not getting stunted.


a fish will not grow nearly as big in capitivity as it will in the wild.. (not the case with all fish obviously..) but I think clowns can fit into that category.

Not true in all cases. But true in a lot of cases, with larger fish. Mind you now days with large tanks being available it is fairly easy to recreate the wild habitats for these fish.

the same person only had 3 of them... seemed fine to me... not the ideal setting but it WAS successfull.. still has them to this day.

What would interrest me is what would happen if 3 more Clowns were added. And placed in a tank twice the size to 3 times the size they are in now.

mac

[Crispy]

Most experienced fishkeepers couldn't raise a clown loach to a foot long. Mine are 2 years old and still only 4". Even at a foot, an 18" deep tank is sufficient IMO.

[mac]

Most experienced fishkeepers couldn't raise a clown loach to a foot long. Mine are 2 years old and still only 4". Even at a foot, an 18" deep tank is sufficient IMO.


All depends on the tank, conditions, food, ect ect.

As for raising them if I had a tank around 200 gallons I would try them my self. The point is fish grow and it all depends on their environment and conditions to the extent they will grow. And more so to the length of the tank, and if they have been stunted at some point in there life.


mac

[Crispy]

All depends on the tank, conditions, food, ect ect.
As for raising them if I had a tank around 200 gallons I would try them my self. The point is fish grow and it all depends on their environment and conditions to the extent they will grow. And more so to the length of the tank, and if they have been stunted at some point in there life.

a 130 gallon will not stunt the growth of a clown loach...

[mac]

Most experienced fishkeepers couldn't raise a clown loach to a foot long. Mine are 2 years old and still only 4". Even at a foot, an 18" deep tank is sufficient IMO.

Right so are we talking about your tank, or the tanks of the experts here? Or are we just discussing the failures of "Experts" who I would love to have met and talk to on the subject, of "Clown Loaches".
IMO they must not be that good "Experts'' if they can't get the clown up to a good size like a foot, unless they had bad stock, or tanks not suitable for the fish, or they did not keep them long enough. Yes I know it takes time. Took about 7 months for my Friends Clowns to get from 2-3 inches up to 6 inches. The one advantage this lady had was she started them of in a 175 gallon tank strait off, in a larger school.


a 130 gallon will not stunt the growth of a clown loach...

Yes they wont get stunted till the reach at least 9-10 inches long, in a tank that size. But a depending on the length though. A short tall tank would not be that great for them like my 100 gallon. Which is 4'x 20'' x 2'.

mac

[Lady Hobbs]

Most experienced fishkeepers couldn't raise a clown loach to a foot long. Mine are 2 years old and still only 4". Even at a foot, an 18" deep tank is sufficient IMO.

Same here with the size, Crispy. I have 5 in my 55 planted. Just as there are several articles that claim CL can max at 16 inches there are just as many articles that also claim in home tanks they often only reach 8". The max size is not the normal size but the largest on record and there is no reason for me to believe that my loaches will become record breakers.

I think I would have to go by what someone tells me that has actually had the loach for 20+ years. Going by articles that only give MAX sizes for any fish really does not apply to us, IMO. We have seen photos of Pacu's pulled from the river that have been enormous but have you seen them that huge in a home fish tank? Or anything like the giant pleco's that have been captured? I think growth size on clowns has been highly exaggerated.

I may let you know in 20 years tho. But, these are fat and bulky fish. Even an 8-12 incher would be a handful.

[mac]

I agree. Articles and sizes based mostly on wild stock, or just on thoughts dose not count.

But with my own eyes I must say given the right size tanks, and proper care, they grow fast, faster than people give them credit.

mac

[Crispy]

Good post Hobbs... I totally agree with ya...