Clown loaches

[Debo]

Hi,
I added salt to my 60 gallon hex tank last night after reading a post about white microscopic dots in the tank. I have had these for a few weeks and wasn't sure what they were. I added 12 tablespoons of salt to the tank. My question is that I now just read that it is not ok to add salt to a tank with clown loaches. My clown loach seems to be doing ok though. Should I do a water change to reduce the salinity or just leave it be? He is actually having a blast in this big tank. I had gotten 2 of them a month ago and out them in a 15 gallon vertical tank. One of them died and I moved him/her to the BIG tank yesterday, before I realized what those white dots were. All my water levels are perfect. Anyways, he is having soooooooooooo much fun in this new big tank. He is best buddies with my red tail shark. They are so cute together. The shark never let anyone near his 3 tier castle. He has let the loach share it with him and last night they were both laying together in one of the doors TOGETHER. So, I think hes ok but I am worried about the salt. What do you guys think?

 

[platypus]

I have clown loaches and have always avoided putting salt in my tank for probably the same reasons that you have heard. Clown loaches are scaleless fish and so salt can cause them great aggravation and stress. I would recommend you do a partial water change of about 25% as a precaution. Also, adding carbon to the filter may remove the salt - I know it works for removing medication from the water so the same principle may apply.

However if you think he's doing OK then you may decide it's OK to leave it. I would definitely suggest keeping a really close eye on him though - be especially vigilant for any 'flashing', i.e. where he looks like he's having a really good scratch against the gravel or rocks. Also monitor his appetite.

One last thing which you probably already know - clowns are really sociable and should be kept in a group of at least 3 so they can look out for each other, so I would think about getting him some buddies if you can.

Good luck!

 

[Debo]

Hi,
Thanks for the advice. After I posted this question it was really upsetting me that I might harm the little loachy so I did a 50% water change. Thank goodness for my willing husband. He had bought me a python but it doesnt fit my faucet. We have a plumber coming today to get it right!! Anyways, he lugged all those buckets for me and we got it done. He seems fine and healthy. I read another post and they said to have one clown loach or more than 5 as they form cliques and one will be singled out. Who do you believe? Also, is my tank big enough for 3? I have a 60 gallon hex.
Tank mates are:
1 really cute little loach-LOACHY
2 jilli corys
2 green corys
2 ottos
1 elegans cory
7 wicked funny tiny tiger barbs
4 tiny chery barbs
1 sunshine platy[About to be moved to another tank}
1 lone white cloud-I know we need to get him some buddies-we had a few jumpers and then a fatality the other day.
We tried neons but they last only a week.
I really want some bumble bee gobies. what else could I add for lots of color and how many more loaches to be safe? I love the loaches most of all.

 

[Alien Anna]

Corys and ottos can't tolerate salt either. I'm surprised you lost your neons - was your tank properly cycled?

Bumblebee gobies would not be a good choice for your tank - very delicate, need brackish water and very territorial.

 

[Debo]

Hi,
yes my tank was cycled. For some reason they just didn't make it. I actually lost one on the way home-only 15 minutes from the LFS. I am not going to buy fish at that CHAIN store again. I have better luck at smaller independent stores.

 

[fish&chips]

how big are your ottos ?
i just bought 2 there the best so cool shooting cross tank

but there name was giant oto ?they only gorw 2-3 inch can you get smaller >?

 

[Alien Anna]

Hi,
yes my tank was cycled. For some reason they just didn't make it. I actually lost one on the way home-only 15 minutes from the LFS. I am not going to buy fish at that CHAIN store again. I have better luck at smaller independent stores.

Yes, independent stores are by far the best - its so disheartening to lose new fish. If it's any consolation it doesn't sound as if there was much you could do.

 

[gadazobe]

You can add more clowns - at least another 3. They seem to be much happier when they have friends of their own kind and will spend hours chasing each other all over the tank. They are quite slow growers, so you will have plenty of room for now, and then, when they get bigger, you can always get a bigger tank

 

[Debo]

how big are your ottos ?
i just bought 2 there the best so cool shooting cross tank

but there name was giant oto ?they only gorw 2-3 inch can you get smaller >?

They are pretty small-maybe an inch and a half. I have heard that they are hard to keep and usually die shortly after bringing them home. I have had mine a month or so. They are too busy eating algae and hanging in the plants to swim much, but when they do they really do dart fast. I have a hard time finding them daily when doing a head count. I have to wait until night time now when they are up and around.
Deb

 

[Debo]

You can add more clowns - at least another 3. They seem to be much happier when they have friends of their own kind and will spend hours chasing each other all over the tank. They are quite slow growers, so you will have plenty of room for now, and then, when they get bigger, you can always get a bigger tank

I am going to go and get 3 more loaches on Wednesday!!!! I hope they are tiny. I love watching them grow.and of course be bad little guys!!! Just like my kids used to be!!

 

[platypus]

I am going to go and get 3 more loaches on Wednesday!!!! I hope they are tiny. I love watching them grow.and of course be bad little guys!!! Just like my kids used to be!!

Hee hee good luck! One other thing I've read about loaches - if you get any newbies try to get them the same size as the originals. I think this is more of a problem if you're only adding one new one to a group though - as he would get bullied. If you're adding three of the same size it should be OK.

For all things loachy, have a look a this site, I think it's fantastic.

Oh, and I have recently discovered how much they love cucumber, would definitely recommend it!