Clown Loaches

[bsemantic]

My friend gave me a 26 gal. hex tank for helping him move. I have been cycling it for almost 2 weeks and can't decide what to put in there. It has a black back so I would need something that contrasts against it. I was thinking about a tank with just clown loaches. Is my tank size appropriate, and are they hard to take care of? What do they eat? etc..............................

 

[LesGerber]

First off I am sorry to say that a 26 gallon hex tank will be way to small for the clowns when they reach maturity. Now I am not going to be to tell you that you cant have clown loaches in your tank......that is up to you. If you decide to go ahead with the clowns then let me tell you right up front that clowns tend to be a bashful fish, as well as being a fish that is a spieces that is harder to keep. They are more suseptible to disease and ICH.
As far as what would go well in your new tank you are going to need to get a few hardier fish to get the tank cycled. You say the tank has been cycling for 2 weeks. What method did you use to start the cycle? Also what are your readings to date, ie. ammonia,nitrites and nitrates. Unless you did a fishless cycle then you are not cycling the tank but instead just been letting it run.
If you have good readings,which after 2 weeks you wont be close to being cycled, then you can slowly add some fish. I would recommend for the size of the tank you have that you go with 6 to 8 tiger barbs. They are the same coloration as the clowns as the clowns when placed in a tank with tigers have been known to school with them. Also another good fish for a tank of that size would be a few black skirt tetras, the silver of their scales would look good off the black of your tank. Another good addition would be a few cory cats, they are compatible with about everything and they are a blast to watch play.
Sorry these arent the answers you were looking for but I feel it would be better to avoid the loaches and go with a different type of fish


HTH


Les

 

[silver]

I'm no expert by far, but I agree.

There's nothing sadder than large fish that don't have any room to swim . It breaks my heart to think that in the wild fish have an endless bounty of water to swim and play in and in tanks they are forced to live in quarters that don't suffice nomatter it a 10 gallon or a 100 gallon , unless of course all you have is neon tetras ;o) I have a 55 gallon and I have 2 Silver Dollars in it and although most would consider it PLENTY of room I still sometimes feel bad for the guys

Good Luck no matter what you decide and happy fish keeping

Silver

 

[silver]

I was thinking about how the background of your tank is black and maybe Black lace Angels would be cool. They are silver and black stripey kind of and the silver would show up well against the black. I just thought it may be neat seeing as how they are black, yet they'd still show up well!!!

Happy Fishkeeping,

Silver

 

[semper fi]

the only fish that is good for a hex is angels. fish not only need the amount of water but the footprint of the tank also. the footprint is the bottom area of the tank. loaches would need a larger footprint than the hex provides.

semper fi

 

[bsemantic]

I thought about angels too. I started the tank with 5 zebra danios. I think I will do angels. How many will live in a tank that size comfortably? And will the danios be okay in there? If not I can move them back to the 29 gallon tank. What do you think?