Clown Loach Query

[double-trouble]

I bought a clown loach about a month ago and he was really brightly coloured when i got him. the guy in the lfs said he would lose his colour on the journey but it would come back when he had settled down.
he is still really pale after a month he's eating properly and very active at night however he is the only clown loach in the tank could his lack of colour be due to the fact he has no other of his kind or does it take longer than a month for them to get their colour back???

 

[unspoken930]

I bought a clown loach about a month ago and he was really brightly coloured when i got him. the guy in the lfs said he would lose his colour on the journey but it would come back when he had settled down.
he is still really pale after a month he's eating properly and very active at night however he is the only clown loach in the tank could his lack of colour be due to the fact he has no other of his kind or does it take longer than a month for them to get their colour back???

Clown Loaches get huge, it just takes a long time. They need to be in groups of atleast 4 I believe but would apreciate more. They also need huge tanks though you can graduate up tank sizes as they get bigger, but Id say a 55 gallon or so would be good to start off with for a group of about 4 if theyre are 3 or so inches when you start out, but you would have to keep bumping up tank sizes.

 

[sophos9]

The clown really should not be on his own, you should really get a larger tank to accomodate the amount needed or take him back to the supplier

 

[double-trouble]

The clown really should not be on his own, you should really get a larger tank to accomodate the amount needed or take him back to the supplier

I didn't actually mention the tank size but he is in a 30gal community tank. will one more be suitable for him or do we need more than that. will his colour return if i get him a friend?? everywhere i have read about clown loaches they grow very slowly about 1 inch a year so i dont quite understand the desperate need for a massive tank while they are growing surely i can just invest in a larger tank when they grow larger!!

 

[sophos9]

I didn't actually mention the tank size but he is in a 30gal community tank. will one more be suitable for him or do we need more than that. will his colour return if i get him a friend?? everywhere i have read about clown loaches they grow very slowly about 1 inch a year so i dont quite understand the desperate need for a massive tank while they are growing surely i can just invest in a larger tank when they grow larger!!

Thats great news then! 4 is really a minimum when the little fella is less stressed, his color will come back. Sometimes when mine fight at feeding time they lose their color but it comes back quick.

As you have said, there is no reason why you cannot invest when they get bigger

 

[loachman]

The more the better. They do best in groups. Clowns can loose their color under stress or other reasons. You can find out some more on it here.

http/www.loaches.com/articles/clown-loac...king-variations

Diet can be a reason also. You may want to try feeding him snails or other live foods. That seems to really bring out the color on my YoYo. I'm not sure of its effect on Clowns though.

 

[sophos9]

Cucumber is what makes clowns make their distinct clicking sound!!

(and other foods...)

 

[crazie.eddie]

Clowns do better in groups. Their color could vary different conditions, such as stress, dominance, etc. Since it's the only loach, it may feel uncomfortable. Is the loach always hiding? Is it eating well? What color is the substrate?

I have clown loaches. I had white substrate, which was very reflective, and the colors of the loaches were always greyed out. I later changed to darker, natural looking brown/red susbtrate. The colors of the loaches later were nice and dark after settling down.

As the people mentioned above, the loaches do better in groups, but a group will probably outgrow your tank eventually.

 

[double-trouble]

Will get some snails for him and see if that helps have managed to get a photo of him its not the best as took it on my phone but it will give you an idea of his colour. its the wrong way round but dont know how to turn it round so you will have to turn your heads sorry!!!

Edit: just realised dont know how to upload a pic will find out how to do it then post it!!

 

[double-trouble]

Managed to get a pic of him on now after some help from people on here!!