Clown Loach Expense

[FishyPastor]

Can someone tell my why clown loaches are so expensive. Most other loaches are 3-5.00 But clowns are 8-9.00 They are more popular but more money, sounds like a scam to me.

[Gisela]

Well, they will be also expensive in the long run, because you have to get a bigger tank than a 65 g for them.

[Jacko]

They are extremely difficult to breed. Steroids and hormones are used in asian farms with success but there is a higher mortality rate among the babies this way (raising cost) along with their slow growth, figure and inch a year whereas other loach species are double that. So more work goes into rearing of the surviving fish (raising the cost).

[FishyPastor]

They are extremely difficult to breed. Steroids and hormones are used in asian farms with success but there is a higher mortality rate among the babies this way (raising cost) along with their slow growth, figure and inch a year whereas other loach species are double that. So more work goes into rearing of the surviving fish (raising the cost).
Wow I did not know that ty.

[Pleco380]

Neither did I. That is interesting. Thanks.

[Dave66]

The vast majority of clown loaches available in shops are wild caught, since this species is quite prolific in nature. The cost of capture and transfer is reflected in the price.

They do breed in captivity when they are around six inches, but no one I know of has caught them in the act. In every instance the loaches were in a large, very thickly planted tank, fed regularly and left alone. In spring the plants were pulled up and masses of young clown loaches were discovered.

Also, though it does take a handful of years to do so, male clown loaches reach 14 inches, females 16.

Dave

[Jacko]

There was a breeding on another forum a few years ago where the guy pretty much saw them in the act... lemme find the thread... here we go:
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[Crispy]

another thing is that they take so long to grow... so as soon as they have some size to them, the price jumps up even more.

[FishyPastor]

another thing is that they take so long to grow... so as soon as they have some size to them, the price jumps up even more.
I noticed that as well the large one I have seen around 50-70.00.

[Gisela]

It's because they prohibit the export of larger ones. So you only get a larger one from somebody who give them up and bring them back in the LFS or some people sell them on AquaBid etc.