4 Clowns w/ a RTBS & Blue Gourami in a 30 gallon

[Teelie]

I've been wanting to get some Clowns for a long time and I've put it off since I only have thirty gallon tanks at the moment but lately I've had something of a pond snail explosion and since Clowns love snails and I will have a near infinite food supply... why not?

The ones I intend to get will be the youngest I can find (pretty small) and will only be in there at most a year and a half to two years until I can move into a permanent place and have room for a larger aquarium. If they outgrow the tank before then, then I can sell them or give them away to my LFS so they will not be stunted or mistreated. The only reason I'm considering it is how slow they grow even in optimal conditions. With almost any other fish I wouldn't even consider this.

My only concern is their tankmates, specifically the Redtailed Black Shark who has something of a temper though it mostly consists of chasing my Blue around once or twice a week and not actually harming her. I doubt he'l be much of a problem and I'm going to be adding more hiding places for the fish so there will not be a fight for territory to hide in.

Plus I am considering adding another biowheel filter to offset the increased load so that will help with water cleanliness.

 

[breezer40]

Ok no condemnation but I did have problems with a RTBS and small clowns. They were fine till he moved in and then all hell broke loose The RTBS would chase them everytime they were anywhere in sight and he made sure they didn't go near any food. Needless to say Mr shark had to go to a new home and they instantly went back to clicking and swimming around the tank

 

[Teelie]

I've thought of selling or giving mine away. I like him but he's been mean to my Gouramis in the past. I'm hoping to fix this with more cover and hiding spots for all the fish. Currently I have just a pagoda and sparse fake and real plants for them. With more fish I'm gonig to add more hiding spaces.

 

[wetwetwet]

I won't 'condmen' either, i've had no problem with rtbs and clowns,but if you are worried about size then why not look at some other smaller botia species who are equally good snail eaters...



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[digital_run]

I won't 'condmen' either, i've had no problem with rtbs and clowns,but if you are worried about size then why not look at some other smaller botia species who are equally good snail eaters...



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I agree completely...there are lots of loach species that love snails and dont near the size. RTB's will attack anything that has a similar body shape and even then they usually attack anything that they dont like...They are a beautiful fish but dont work well in the small community aquarium.

 

[Teelie]

I was more concerned about the aquarium size being condemned as Clowns need a 60 gallon minimum as adults. The reason I want to get Clowns over other Loaches is they're so interesting and right now I can get a good deal on some small ones that will take longer to outgrow their tank than the larger ones I usually see up forsale. Plus I've wanted to keep them ever since I first saw them. It's too hard to resist the ones I'm wanting to get.

 

[wetwetwet]

Then go for it

You will be fine for a couple of years



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[Teelie]

I got the four today. One is tiny, so small it looks almost like it's still embryonic with the egg sac (it's not). They've adapted well already and the shark has been a big chicken, hiding in the pagoda. The Gourami is mostly sticking to the top of the tank. I got a huge piece of wood too which barely fit but is perfect for all the inhabitants. That seemed to scare the shark more than anything else. He did come out though after I moved the pagoda and is back to normal. He never turned pale or lost his color which IMO is a good sign.

 

[northpaul]

clowns grow quite quick upto about 3" then slow down so you should be ok great fish lots of fun

 

[LoachLover]

Clowns should be in a minimum of 55 gallons, and after a few years you'll probably have to upgrade from that. All Botias will eat snails, so I'd get some smaller loaches.

 

[Teelie]

I know that and I even said I was going to do that.

 

[LoachLover]

I know that and I even said I was going to do that.

Well sorry, when I made that post I was getting ready for work, so I was in a hurry.