Feeding Clown Loaches

[oxfordmark]

Hello

I got some clown loach in our tank last weekend. When feeding flakes the Tetras would get 95% of the food.

Someone at my pet store recommended Algae Wafer food as it will sink. Is this ok for them?

 

[Man of fish]

They need some meat in their diet so get bottom feeder tablets, not algae wafers.

Just a side note how many do you have in what size tank.

 

[elmo666]

Small clown loach require plenty of bloodworm, live if possible but frozen will do fine. My trick to get it down to them is to feed flake at one end of the tank, then drop the bloodworm in at the other. They will soon get used to where their favorite food is at meal times

 

[KittyKat]

Someone at my pet store recommended Algae Wafer food as it will sink. Is this ok for them?

Cory or carnivore pellets, with occasional veggies is probably the best diet. Live foods are always appreciated, as with most fish. As mentioned earlier, the real question is whether your tank is big enough and whether the group is big enough.

 

[oxfordmark]

Hello

Thanks for your replies.

When i tried the Algae wafers, they went wild for them but didnt seem to go down (still were large. Should they be pre soaked before dropping? or should i ditch them and get another sort that you mentioned?

I have blood worms which i feed to them twice a week. I have 4 clown loaches and 6 Tetras in a 60l tank.

 

[elmo666]

I had the same problem with wafers. You can't just drop them on the surface, you need to release them below the water line

 

[Man of fish]

I'm sorry to say, but clown loaches prefer groups of 6+ and a 4 ft minimum 300 liter tank. These guys can grow to 14" and will in a proper tank. Most say a 6 ft x 2 ft is minimum for adults

 

[oxfordmark]

I'm sorry to say, but clown loaches prefer groups of 6+ and a 4 ft minimum 300 liter tank. These guys can grow to 14" and will in a proper tank. Most say a 6 ft x 2 ft is minimum for adults

Hello

The person at the fish shop did explain that they grow this length, but they are slow growers. He did say that when they get too big they would be able to possibly buy them off of us.

I had the same problem with wafers. You can't just drop them on the surface, you need to release them below the water line

What do you mean by this?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I had the same problem with wafers. You can't just drop them on the surface, you need to release them below the water line

What do you mean by this?

Hold them under the water before you let them go. That way they don't float on top.

 

[oxfordmark]

I had the same problem with wafers. You can't just drop them on the surface, you need to release them below the water line

What do you mean by this?

Hold them under the water before you let them go. That way they don't float on top.

They sank, but they were nibbling at them and it didnt look like anything was being eaten.

 

[KittyKat]

When i tried the Algae wafers, they went wild for them but didnt seem to go down (still were large. Should they be pre soaked before dropping? or should i ditch them and get another sort that you mentioned?

The wafers are normally designed to sink and become soft over time. They're good as a treat, but you really need meatier sinking foods for a staple.

I have blood worms which i feed to them twice a week. I have 4 clown loaches and 6 Tetras in a 60l tank.

I'm sorry to say, but clown loaches prefer groups of 6+ and a 4 ft minimum 300 liter tank. These guys can grow to 14" and will in a proper tank. Most say a 6 ft x 2 ft is minimum for adults

The person at the fish shop did explain that they grow this length, but they are slow growers. He did say that when they get too big they would be able to possibly buy them off of us.

16", not 14". They are slow growers, but they need the space to grow at all. I also consider that a 4 ft tank is really the smallest that they should have (or they will become stunted) and 6 ft is the absolute minimum for them once they reach the middle of their growth stage. Realistically, a 2 ft tank is only any good for when they have just barely hatched.

I also strongly recommend that they should be kept in a group of 6+, and ideally in a group of 10+. This is why the are not really suitable for the average community tank By the way, which shop have you been going to? Goldfish Bowl or Maidenhead Aquatics?

Buy them off you? Hehe, large clowns have a high value, so you won't have trouble getting rid of them… the problem is that your tank is too small for them to grow.

 

[oxfordmark]

When i tried the Algae wafers, they went wild for them but didnt seem to go down (still were large. Should they be pre soaked before dropping? or should i ditch them and get another sort that you mentioned?

The wafers are normally designed to sink and become soft over time. They're good

I have blood worms which i feed to them twice a week. I have 4 clown loaches and 6 Tetras in a 60l tank.

I'm sorry to say, but clown loaches prefer groups of 6+ and a 4 ft minimum 300 liter tank. These guys can grow to 14" and will in a proper tank. Most say a 6 ft x 2 ft is minimum for adults

The person at the fish shop did explain that they grow this length, but they are slow growers. He did say that when they get too big they would be able to possibly buy them off of us.

16", not 14". They are slow growers, but they need the space to grow at all. I also consider that a 4 ft tank is really the smallest that they should have (or they will become stunted) and 6 ft is the absolute minimum for them once they reach the middle of their growth stage. Realistically, a 2 ft tank is only any good for when they have just barely hatched.

I also strongly recommend that they should be kept in a group of 6+, and ideally in a group of 10+. This is why the are not really suitable for the average community tank By the way, which shop have you been going to? Goldfish Bowl or Maidenhead Aquatics?

Buy them off you? Hehe, large clowns have a high value, so you won't have trouble getting rid of them… the problem is that your tank is too small for them to grow.

Are the wafer pellets ok to sit about at the bottom for a few hours?

 

[KittyKat]

When i tried the Algae wafers, they went wild for them but didnt seem to go down (still were large. Should they be pre soaked before dropping? or should i ditch them and get another sort that you mentioned?

The wafers are normally designed to sink and become soft over time. They're good

Are the wafer pellets ok to sit about at the bottom for a few hours?

Yes, as long as your filter is fully cycled, you can leave them on the bottom for up to around 12 hours.

 

[oxfordmark]

When i tried the Algae wafers, they went wild for them but didnt seem to go down (still were large. Should they be pre soaked before dropping? or should i ditch them and get another sort that you mentioned?

The wafers are normally designed to sink and become soft over time. They're good

Are the wafer pellets ok to sit about at the bottom for a few hours?

Yes, as long as your filter is fully cycled, you can leave them on the bottom for up to around 12 hours.

Ok, perhaps i will cut the pellets, i think 1 is too big for what u need..

 

[gillicous]

clown loach will also eat the snails in the tank as well as other food stuff so are quite handy there too