Clown Loach Survey

[enricosonic]

Other loaches like yoyo and tiger will likely be the way I steer our tanks in the future. I’ve not owned these but I from what I’ve read they’re somewhat similar in personality.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I kept yoyos as my first loach. I gave them away because they harassed my DD black angels mercilessly. Yoyos are known to do this sometimes. But for the most part they are a peaceful fish. They need to be in groups. have a read here https://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-almorhae

There are about 7 different loaches with tiger in their common name.

 

[Stan510]

I had a few that were in the 8 year old range ..when I got out of the hobby 13 years ago. Then,three years ago got back in and around the one year mark back in a bought like five small clown loaches. Two died over a few months time,the last three have been happy and healthy and grown from the 1 1/2 inch size to over 3" right now..maybe 3 1/2? and with stout bodys. They are active and in the morning the trio swim back and forth along the front glass (8 foot long aquarium) like they are swimming up river for a few hundred yards. I've seen them even get right in front of the return pipe from a 1,200 gph pump and that's when you see that these are river fish..powerful swimmers.
I think they are very healthy..but might have grown larger if I fed live worms as I would do years ago. Still,shrimp,krill,color flakes and beefheart is the rotation.
Clown Loaches are a must have for me. I do have a Queen Botia that's' over 4" but doesnt have near the looks or personality of the Clown Loaches. The Queen is also more nocturnal then ever..the reverse of when it was young and small and out in the day.
I might add more Clowns one day..but only if I set up a quarantine tank for them. No more,just plop fish into my settled tank these days. Never take the chance of a wipeout.

 

[ShinySideUp]

My seven Clown loaches are all about the same age but wildly different sizes. The two largest are about 7 inches long but the smallest two are no more than three inches -- nose to base of tail. I have heard that in an established environment, the largest female in a group will emit hormones that discourage growth in her group-mates so that she remains the largest. How true this is I have no idea and in a river environment -- their natural habitat -- any hormones would surely get washed away, so I don't see how this could happen. However, perhaps in a restricted environment this does happen and acts as a safeguard against over-crowding; who knows.

 

[Stan510]

I've always thought of Clown Loaches as top five all time aquarium fish. They have it all..color,personality, and long lived. The more the better and why I wish I had more. Last visit to fish stores showed the prices per loach is through the roof. For small loaches.