Clown Loach

[rachellouise]

I have one Clown Loach in the tank but i am wondering if i should have more than one?

Originally we bought 2 but one always looked thinner, lacking in colour etc. The one we have now really took off and got fatter etc, the other eventually died and we have only had the one ever since?

He only ever comes out at night and we rarely see him-is this normal or would he come out more if we had more Clown Loaches?

I am wondering what would happen if we added more Loaches as the one we have a large(2 yrs old at least?) and the ones in the shops are tiny!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Get in touch with "VickyandKev"on this forum... They have a school of 25+ moving into a 8x4x2 self-built tank anytime (perhaps may even be in there by now)

 

[kelvinrankin767]

I used to have clown loaches 3 of them i bought 1 from the pet store and the idiot said one would be fine on its own and it was very timid and hidding all the time and not eating well so i added another 2 and they were great fun to watch came out of hiding and played together and were the most exciting fish in my tank but mind they do grow big by the end i had to get a bigger tank if you dont have the space for 3 dont get any because they are very solicable fish.

 

[CrystalClear16]

Clown loaches should be kept in groups of at least 5 and they can grow 10-15" long. They also need lots of hiding places and very good water quality.

If yours are hiding all the time that suggests they are nervous, probably because they are lonely or don't have enough places to hide. Mine do hide a bit during the day but are always out and about in the evenings, chasing each other etc.

How big is your tank? And how big are your clown loaches now?

 

[rachellouise]

Clown loaches should be kept in groups of at least 5 and they can grow 10-15" long. They also need lots of hiding places and very good water quality.

If yours are hiding all the time that suggests they are nervous, probably because they are lonely or don't have enough places to hide. Mine do hide a bit during the day but are always out and about in the evenings, chasing each other etc.

How big is your tank? And how big are your clown loaches now?

Hi there we were sold the 2 Clown Loaches as we had snails in the tank and the guy said they would be fine in our 60l tank! We soon realised this was not the case! As i said one died shorthly after purchase-never grew, not brightly coloured etc. The remaining one is a bright and has grew well.

We now have a 200l tank and the Clown Loach is maybe 3-4 inches? He is rather chunky- a very similar size to our red tailed shark, slightly smaller.

He does come out a night but i was just wondering if he would be more active if not alone

 

[Wills]

Hi a 200 liter tank would house clown loaches for a few years but eventually they will outgrow that tank if they are at 3 inches I would say you maybe have 2 years with them in this tank but ultimatly you will need a 6 foot tank with clown loaches. If you cant go for a 6 foot tank eventually perhaps consider an other type of loach like zebra or yoyo, pokladot are nice as well

But for now if you want to keep the clowns get an other 4 of similar size and they will be much more confident in the tank and active throughout the day also try a few floating plants to subdue the lighting in parts this might help bring him out till his friends arive.

Wills

 

[Verminator89]

I have 5 clown loach in a 3ft tank. I took them in from someone leaving the hobby. Long term i know i can't keep them in there and i'm currently trying to sell them on here. My point is i used to have 2, like you one of mine died and i was left with 1. I never saw him, he only came out at night and wasnt very social. For the last few months i've had 5 in there and theres NEVER a time when i can't see one. There always out swimming, darting round the tank playing with each other. Its fantastic, but as mentioned get a bigger tank in the long term if you wish to keep them.

 

[rachellouise]

Thank you for all replies.

I am now in a dilema as i really don't want to get rid of the Clown Loach as we have had him a long time and he is a fab looking fish- however i now realise that he should'nt be on his own and by the sounds of it 2 in my tank is a no go

What is the largest anyone has had a Clown Fish grow...I know it's around 10in or more but has anyone actually had one grow that large? Are they usally smaller in a tank?

What to people do with fish when they out grow their tanks? I would be unable to up grade to a 6ft tank

 

[Curiosity101]

Meet marge...

She is/was apparently 16" head to tail. Now compare her to the other clowns in the shot and you'll see that with the correct conditions and time it's perfectly feasible they get to 10".

They aren't mine, I've never kept them as I don't have a bit enough tank. But you can google clown loaches and look at all the pics. There are plenty of examples of big ones.

When I fish starts to outgrow a tank people re-home it with someone who has a larger tank by using the classifieds on here/on other sites.

 

[Curiosity101]

I've just been reading through a thread on another forum about this very question (someone was asking for pictures n such along with max size of peoples clowns).

I just read someone who has a couple of 10" that grew to that size in 6 years as they were being fed a good diet of mussels.

Infact on that thread alot of peoples biggest are 10-11" and they're still young for clowns (ie. less than 10 years)

 

[rachellouise]

I've just been reading through a thread on another forum about this very question (someone was asking for pictures n such along with max size of peoples clowns).

I just read someone who has a couple of 10" that grew to that size in 6 years as they were being fed a good diet of mussels.

Infact on that thread alot of peoples biggest are 10-11" and they're still young for clowns (ie. less than 10 years)

OMG! That is one big fish

Ok-does anyone what a Clown Fish

Think i need to be sticking with smaller fish!

I think i will end up having problems with my Silver Sharks by the sound of it too..

 

[Curiosity101]

Silver sharks correct name is Bala Shark, and yes they grow pretty large and are a shoaling fish just like tetras etc.

 

[CrystalClear16]

But if you are planning on upgrading your tank then it is ok - as long as you upgrade before they start to feel squashed.

I have 6 clown loaches in a 125L. This of course is far too small for 6 full grown adults, but mine are only 1yr old and only 2" long. My plan is to upgrade the tank as they grow. They were intially in a 50L tank and outgrew it within 6 months, now they are in a 125L which should last them a year or so depending.

As long as you can identify when they are getting too big, you can upgrade and prevent them from stunting.

 

[meguro]

Silver sharks correct name is Bala Shark

silver shark and bala shark are both common names. if u meant scientific name than it is actually Balantiocheilos melanopterus

 

[Curiosity101]

silver shark and bala shark are both common names. if u meant scientific name than it is actually Balantiocheilos melanopterus

Course I meant scientific name... because bala shark is clearly latin The most commonly used name is bala shark... this is all I was refering to. So you're right 'correct' isn't the right term. But 'most commonly used' would be.