Getting some clown loaches

[David]

Currently in my 46 gallon I have 1 betta and 3 platies. It has been cycling for almost a week now. I have 4 live plants and a piece of driftwood as well. I want to add 3 clown loaches for my next addition, will they be fine in a 46 gallon? I am also planning to add some more plans and rocks for cover, because I know that the clowns are often shy and retiring at first. Can I get them as soon as my water parameters are stable (ammonia 0 nitrite 0) or should I wait a while? If so how long? Any added information on this fascinating species would be greatly appreciated.

 

[David]

Come on please reply. I'm sure there are many of you who have a lot of experience with these fish..

 

[Hooligan]

Definately wait until your tank has cycled they don't cope well in bad water conditions. Apart from that they will be fine

 

[Gix]

Yeah. They should be fine in your tank, just wait 'till everything's stable (they're like scaleless fish; they don't cope well with stuff in the water). Hope they work out for you!

 

[David]

Currently my tank has been cycling for about a week and my betta and platies that I have in there are fine... ammonia is 0 and nitrite is 0.6 and dropping. Am I ready?

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> Am I ready?

Impossible to say. Depends how you are cycling it. A week would be unusually short if you were simply hoping to do a fish cycle. Clown Loaches are susceptible to poor water, and can grow very large, by adding them, you will seriously limit your choice of other fish and still remain within sensible stocking levels.

 

[David]

I don't really care about limiting my other choices... I really want the clown loaches so they are a must. I think I'll try a couple of small ones today they should be fine I think. Since they grow slowly I can always upgrade to a larger tank later, or trade them in for other fish to the lfs.

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> Since they grow slowly

They actually grow quite quickly to about 6"/150mm then slow down.

 

[David]

I just got 2 of them and they both have ich! What should I do?

 

[David]

I've already increased the temperature and added melafix. Until I can get some ich meds there's not much else I can do. Any suggestions? Is ich fatal? if so how soon after contraction?

 

[Lateral Line]

Ich is not fatal. Raising the temperature with Botias is a really bad thing to do. They are fish that naturally occur in cooler fast flowing and thus highly oxygenated water. O2 levels go down, Botias turn over.

Raising the temperature only accelerates the life cycle of the parasite, read the pinned thread. As scaleless fish, you cannot use salt or dye based remedies, they will kill your Botias. As you have not got the remedy yet, be particulaly careful in your choice. Tell your LFS it is for Botias, even then, don't expect to be sold the right thing - sad but true.

 

[Red]

Watching this thread with interest as I've fallen in LURRRVE with clown loaches after reading the posts about how they sleep.

I WANT CLOWN LOACHES in my new 4ft tank (110ltr).

David, please keep posting - PH levels, water temp, interaction, ICH, EVERYTHING.

I'm gonna follow your lead (these are GORGOEOUS fish )

 

[David]

Well I bought some Rid-Ich and have just added it into the tank... hope it turns out ok. I also fed em some sinking shrimp tablets they are eating em with glee . At least they still have their appetites.

 

[David]

I am currently lowering the temp and turned the air pump and filter on full blast for maximum aeration. Lateral Line: This Rid-Ich I bought says it contains some dyes, but it also says that it is realtively safe for scaleless fishes such as tetras plecs and loaches... Maybe I should only administer a half dose? I really want to get rid of that ich fast... it's pretty damn ugly on those beautiful clown loaches.

 

[David]

I don't know if it's just me but they seem better already Will now test water parameters.