Clown Loach

[LoachLover]

Their growth rate tends to top off quickly at 4 inches I thnik the real issue is knowing when to upgrade to prevent stunting the fish more than their out growing the tank too quickly. Almost every site agrees on their slower growth but not everyone agrees on just when their high and slow paced growth spurts are.

Well speaking from experience, mine gew fast to about 6 inches, one slowed down at 5 1/2.

And it's just my opinion not to put them in the 30 gallon. He's going to upgrade anway so why put more stress on the loaches by moving them from tank to tank.

 

[Teelie]

There could be many reasons he wants to get then now while they're smaller and he doesn't have the larger tank. Regardless though, he'll do what he thinks is best. Fish keeping is something like 80% opinion anyways.

 

[LoachLover]

Yeah it's his choice, but I just think it wise to wait. There are a lot of species of loach that stay small and are just as neat that he could keep in a 30 gallon.

 

[Lateral Line]

LL:

Is that H. orthogoniata in your avatar?

 

[LoachLover]

LL:

Is that H. orthogoniata in your avatar?

Yes it's Homaloptera orthogoniata


Always have loved that type of loach but have never been able to find them.

 

[Lateral Line]

There was one doing the show circuit for a couple of years in the mid 90's. It was benched at our open show a couple of times. An absolute cracker of a fish it was too.

It's of no help at all to you being US side, but they are on the stock list at Wildwoods in Enfield right now, so they are obviously being exported.

 

[Morrgan]

I read that a German loach expert, Gerhard Ott, recommends at least 300 l (is that about 75 gal? I don't have a converter handy) even for juveniles, otherwise they might not reach full size when adult. For adult fish he recommends at least 500 l (125 gal?). After seeing a school with over 20 cm/8 in clown loaches in a 2 m/6-7 foot tank, actively swimming from one end to the other in just a few seconds, I'd agree with what he says.

 

[LoachLover]

There was one doing the show circuit for a couple of years in the mid 90's. It was benched at our open show a couple of times. An absolute cracker of a fish it was too.

It's of no help at all to you being US side, but they are on the stock list at Wildwoods in Enfield right now, so they are obviously being exported.

Yeah it really doesn't help me being over here. So eventually I might get my hands on some, and if I do I'll definately take pictures