Clown Loach?

[Batzman]

Hey, i am trying to find out some good fish for a community tank, and was wondering about a group of clown loach? are they a good community fish? and I have herd they get sick very easily and die? anyone had previous experience?

 

[-SPB-]

These are a very social fish and need to be kept in groups.

What size tank do you have as they would need at least a 55g.

Some more info here:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=34953

and here:

http/www.loaches.com/species-index/clown...ia-macracanthus

 

[loachman]

I'd say a 55 gal was very undersized. They can reach a foot in length each, and should be kept in a group of 5+. That puts you at about a 100 gal.

There are better choices for a community tank such as botia striata, botia kubotai, and botia almorhae that will not even get to be half the size of clown loaches.

 

[always4lora]

a 55g would not be good for full size adults but they are very slow growers so you could use it as like a stepping tank before for you go 100g+

 

[loachman]

a 55g would not be good for full size adults but they are very slow growers so you could use it as like a stepping tank before for you go 100g+

You could, if you're 100% sure you can get a larger tank.

IMO, there are too many variables that effect your ability to predict that so I don't like to advise people to stock with the assumption they'll have a larger tank later.

Be aware that it is very hard to get rid of large clown loaches (like most other fish that grow to over 8"), as everyone gets them when they're cute and small then freaks out when the 1.5" little fish is now 8"+.

 

[always4lora]

ineed not many people have the room nor money for a 6ft + tank bt if you're certain then go for it 6+ tiny clown loach would look really wierd in a 6ft tank...

 

[pippoodle]

clown loaches can grow 4-5 " each in the first year
so a group of 6 would put you up to 30" of fish within 12 months
so take that into account

if you only have a 30g tank now then i wouldn't get them as you would soon be extremely over stocked

i myself wouldn't keep these in anything under a 100g tank

looking at your current stock and seeing as you have a 125 ltr tank then NO dont get them
you also need to increase the numbers of danios you have as they need to be in groups of 6+

keep looking around at other loaches first

 

[Batzman]

O that is a shame very nice little fish o well will browse at some other loachs

cheers

 

[-SPB-]

Guess I was a bit out with the tank size sorry!!!! Maybe if the 55g is to small in the long run, the page on TFF about them needs changing:

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=34953"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=34953[/URL]

 

[pippoodle]

O that is a shame very nice little fish o well will browse at some other loachs

cheers

yes have a really good look around the net and many lfs will order the ones you're interested in

good luck Sarah x

 

[mrbudgie]

candy stripe loaches are just as good if you aint got space for clowns right now similar behaviour as well...