Clown Loaches....personal Opions Please :)

[lilmisshertz]

Hi all!!
I have a question about clown loaches.
Some people say that clown loaches grow up to 16", some say 12", some say that fish wont grow larger than the tank their in etc.
I know the last comment is fiction, as a fish will grow, whether in a tank to suit their size or not, but I do know keeping them in a smaller tank than they should be housed in, can stunt their growth, and is cruel.
Can someone please give me some guidance, from personal experience etc, as to how big these loaches get typically in an aquarium and how many to keep, as I know they are social fish that like to school. But some information says 3+ others say 4+ and somewhere else will say 5+ is the minimum.
I know the more the better but what is the minium, in your opinions.


Thanks!

 

[jollysue]

I have 5 in a 125 usg with Moba fronts, multi Synos, and some compressicepts. They are wild caught at 5". They are about 6" now. When I got them I was advised that if I had less than 6 at that size I would not see much of them. I had two in the community tank, so I planned to move them in with 4 new guys, and that would make 6. One hid out, and I only just started seeing him again. So only one got moved to the African tank with the newbies.

I never see them! haha Lots of rocks and crevices in a Rift tank and they seldom come out in the light and never play. I don't know if putting the 6th in would make a difference or not.

Some day I will move them to their own tank.

The common wisdom is that they will reach about 12" in an aquarium. But I really don't know from experience. Many of the clowns that people buy are farm bred. Those are not as vital as the wild caught because of the breeding practices and methods.

 

[andywg]

They definitely get to 12" in an aquarium, as the below page shows:

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

 

[Lateral Line]

I would say 12"/300mm in reasonable conditions, larger in the wild. A group size of at least 3, more being better.

 

[jollysue]

Thank you for not chastizing, folks, me for putting them in the Tanganyikan Rift tank. It was repeatedly recommended and when I got the multi Synos and compressicepts the importer seller also recommended it. I am now sorry that I did not follow my personal preference of keeping tanks close to natural environment, but listened to others.

BUT, It means that some day I can have a clown tank!

 

[jayjay]

I've seen 12" clown loaches so yes, 12". I kept 8 together and they are constantly out, the more the merrier, I've experienced keeping clown loaches.

 

[The-Wolf]

seen a few 12" specimens in some shops, at silly prices I might add.
seen a couple of 14" ones at the London aquarium

 

[SouthernCross]

My LFS has a display tank with a full grown clown loach in it. He's at least a foot long, if not more, and he looks as thick around as my arm. He's a solid fella, he reminds me of a football for some reason, . I think its great they have him - I see sooo many ppl interested in the baby ones for sale, and the staff can point to him and people can actually see how massive they grow.

 

[lilmisshertz]

Thanks for all the info. From what i'd researched and from what this post has identified, i'd say that 12" is average, so that would not be fair for me to get some clown loaches then, as my LFS knows what sized tank mine is, yet said i'd be fine with 3+ plus more fish. I think otherwise!! Seeing as my tank is:
100cm width
45cm depth
60cm height.
So now that clown loaches are not an acceptable choice, could anyone consider a stunning loache that will be suitable for this type of aquarium?
I was thinking a botia kubotai or botia histrionica. I would ideally like the species to have the same characteristics as the clown loach
Thanks all

 

[smithrc]

in all fairness - the shop will have made a "nasty" assumption... That they would die before they became a problem

They are very slow growing - we have 10 - the largest of them it about 5" we've had him for about 5 years....
so at the moment we have nothing to worry about.

 

[cuticom]

LOL Southern Cross I thought they had two? or maybe that was two plecos, it was two of something massive LOL. I'd definitely they agree that they'd get to 12 inch might take em a while but they can do it.

 

[stargirly1208]

I think 4 is a good number I see mine all the time, cept when it's sleepy time. I've never personally seen a clown loach larger than 6" in a normal aquarium. At the zoo i've seen big ones, but that's about it. They are very slow growers.

 

[spud13]

i have 2 x clown loaches and 2 x polka dot loaches (Botia Kubotai)
they are always out and playing and are never shy and hide away all 4 loaches sleep together and play together
i love the polka dot loaches the smallest one has a great charecter if you put your hands in the tank he attaches himself to your hand and wont leave you alone

 

[tlef316]

researching clown loaches has really started to frustrate me. Everyone has a totally diferent opinion on what size tank is needed. I have a 4 foot, 75 US gallon tank with a sand substrate. There is plenty of water movement from my aquaclear 110. I would really love to get a group of 3 or 4 juvenile loaches, but im very conflicted. From everything I've read, they wont get above 6 or 7 inches for a good 5 years (if not longer) but i certainly dont want to stunt them.

Every day, i change my mind, but i think im gonna pass on them. I hate to do it, as they look like great fish. The last time i went to a LFS, they had around 15 of them in one of their tanks (around a 25 gallon) they were all around 4-5 inches long. Every time someone would pass the tank, they would all come darting to the front of the tank and stare at the customers. Really wish i could properly house a group of them

 

[ArauraDiscus]

I've had sme clown loaches for 6 years. They are still 2 inches long and about 1 inch high. THey eat live brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms and beef heart among flakes all the time. I think it's unfair to assume that the average length is 12 inches. I feel that the average is about 6 inches. but the maximum is around 12 inches give or take a few.