Clown Loaches

[Fishy411]

Ok. Im not sure if this is the right place to put this.


I need an absolute final judgement omn this. I have a 55 gallon tank. Will 3 or 4 clown loaches fit in there. I know they get huge but they grow at a rate of 1" per year so i figure by the time they get close to big enough to be outgrowing the tank i will either have a new tank or will be living on the streets of NYc. They are about 1.5" right now.

 

[sylvia]

No.

My reasoning behind this is that if you don't know where you'll be or what you'll have in the future you cannot plan for an upgrade or ensure the loaches' futures. Even if you think you'll have a suitable tank, you never know what might come up. I'm personaly completely against keeping any fish in an inadequately sized tank unless you already own the tank it will move into. Even though the fish is small now, it isn't fare to put it in a tank that won't be large enough for it at maturity only to find that a few years down the road you can no longer keep it resposibly. Re-homing a 10" clown loach is difficult to say the least.

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

Exactly. I've heard of WAY to many tanks being grossly overstocked because of this. Not a good idea.

 

[Talleyrand]

I know clowns can get a foot long in the wild, but in aquaria they're much smaller. I have never seen a clown loach larger than 6 or 7 inch's in captivity, nor heard of one. I'm sure they exist as do foot long Oscars, they must just be rare.
20" of adult loaches shouldnt overload a 55 US gallon tank, as they are a relatively clean fish.
If he manages to get a mutant clown that outgrows his tank he can always donate it to the Navy to mark mines

In my opinion (I'm no expert) I would have to say, the odds that three tank raised clown loach's will outgrow your tank are low.

I have tried to raise clowns myself, on both occasions they died from disease (I suck ) Loaches are very prone to external parasites.

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

I have to agree that they are very susceptible to external parasites, and that I've also lost a few that way. I have heard of foot long clown loaches, and have seen pics. of them, and have seen some for sale in lfs. You are correct that they usually don't that large, but IME they do grow normally to 9 or 10 inches.

 

[Fishy411]

yeah i know that they do grow rather large ( 9 -10" ) but they also grow very slowly am i correct. I figure that by the time they get to be a foot long if they do get that big than i will have given it away.

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

That's a plan. Just know that you will eventually have to get larger tank, or give them to me.

 

[Fishy411]

are u in NY. I figure if Final dynazty can rehome a BGK he should have no problem with clown loaches.

 

[Hooligan]

Hey, just go for it. No one on here is gonna change your mind (well they'll try) but at the end of the day its your choice. Go for it! And get some clownies!!!!

 

[Fishy411]

Ok. Thx for the advice everyone. I think i'll be getting some.Someone said that they like to nip at cories. Is this true? Also what is the best way to keep them from external parasites. Clean water? Also just a quick Q but are they hard to breed?

 

[Lateral Line]

The 1" per year may be true if taken over the lifespan of the fish, but it is certainly not a simple linear relationship. They grow quite quickly at first and slow down later, in a well maintained aquarium, they should reach 100-150mm in less then 2 years.

There have been isolated spawning by accident. Commercial breeding requires special techniques including the injection of hormones.

 

[Hooligan]

Also just a quick Q but are they hard to breed?

Hard to breed! There extremly hard to breed. People have only accidentally bred them.

There probably one of the hardest fish to breed.

 

[fufanu360]

i bet silver dollars are harder

 

[smithrc]

clowns will be fine in a 55 gallon. we have 4 in our 50gal.

As long as you are prepared for them getting large than you know what you've taken on.

If you cant cope as they get bigger - take them back to a lfs.

 

[Fishy411]

ok so 3 to 5 inches in the first 2 years and than slowly after that. It seems like something i can cope with because 3 to 5 inches isnt that big for a 55 in my opinion. Also what is the best number of loaches to get so that they'll be the most active.