Getting A Larger Pvc Pipe For My Clown Loaches?

[ey2006]

I've got a 5cm (diameter) PVC pipe in the tank for the clown loaches at present, they have always squeezed in it with little room to move and knowing that clowns like to hide/rest in spots as tight as possible, I thought it'd be ok.

But now I've noticed that the PVC pipe is a bit too small for them all to fit in and they do have great trouble moving in and out of it, so I thought it is time to get a larger PVC pipe. The PVC pipe is so small for all of them that I'm starting to think it may be stunting their growth (the PVC pipe, not the tank size)

I was thinking of getting a 10cm diameter one, its a big jump, but at least they will have much more space to move around, plus if I got a 7.5cm one, chances are, it will still be pretty tight for them, plus it wont be long before I need to get another bigger one.

There are plenty of driftwood and caves/pots in the tank but for some reason the clowns only like to sleep in the PVC pipe. Just hope they wont shy away from the newer and bigger PVC pipe once I get it.

Do you think upgrading from a 5cm PVC to a 10cm would be a good move?

Thanks

 

[Coomon10]

As a definite non-expert... I would say yes!

I know clowns don't particularly enjoy major changes in environment so maybe rather than directly replacing their beloved old pipe you could replace a cave/pot etc and check the usage, then you can decide whether to keep it and lose the smaller pipe, keep both...

 

[Ginge]

Sounds good alsong as you and they like it.

 

[ey2006]

Thanks for the suggestions, I got a new PVC pipe earlier today. Currently soaking it in a bucket of tank water, leaving it overnight and putting it in tomorrow.

 

[Gankutsuou]

Clown Loaches are something I've been debating on getting for my 40 gallon tanks, and from what i've heard through research, they hate sudden changes of anything.

But it's a pipe none the less. Hiding takes priority over hate of change, and they'll get used to it withing a week i'd assume.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Get more than one cave for them.