I have Clown Loaches & Convicts!

[smb]

so in my case, 2 clown loaches + 2 convicts, the convicts will try to badly hurt the loaches? should i put an acrylic divider?

Clown Loaches get to about a foot long. They are too big for a 40g tank w/o a divider, let alone with one.

Edit: But yes, the cons will put a hurting on the loaches if they breed. They probably will even if you have just males or females also. They are just nasty fish when compared to community fish.

 

[Eelzor]

ok, ill probably trade them in when they get too big for a 40g , but like i said should i put an acrylic divider for now? when the female looks pregnant?

 

[AquaNut]

Um. Isn't the tank you have those four fish in right now something like five or eight gallons? 18 x 8 x 8 isn't very big. I'd suggest you take the clown loaches back to your lfs.

 

[Eelzor]

even if they are about 1 inche each?

 

[smb]

ok, ill probably trade them in when they get too big for a 40g , but like i said should i put an acrylic divider for now? when the female looks pregnant?

The female doesn't get pregnant. She lays eggs. You might not even know when it happens.

I'm just saying that you are in for a whole lot of trouble with this setup. I wouldn't keep a pair of cons in anything less than a 20g minimum if they were by themselves. The loaches won't know what hit them when those eggs are laid and it's going to be quick. You have to understand the ferocity of cichlids when protecting their babies. It's not like community fish at all. Cichlids are completely different. . They kill and die for their fry w/o giving it a second thought.

The tank you have is too small for a divider, imo.

 

[Eelzor]

yea, i suppose your right. i may have to have the 2 parents with their fry alone in the tank. thanks for your time.

 

[AquaNut]

even if they are about 1 inche each?

Yes. I thought that convicts were super nasty breeders extraordinaire, and smb has totally confirmed that. Not only is the tank you have far too small for any of those fish (let alone all four of them), clown loaches are really not meant to be feeder fish.

 

[smb]

even if they are about 1 inche each?

I've had convicts breed at just over an inch long. Please belive me when I try to tell you this isn't an ideal setup. Since you don't have the tank capacity to keep the loaches it's just best to take them back now before they are killed. I don't know what else to say about it but they will be killed.

 

[Eelzor]

thanks for both your opinions on my statement.

 

[smb]

I'm glad we could help you out.

If you have a breeding pair of cons you'll have some cute lil critters swimming around in a couple weeks. Let us know how it goes ok?

 

[AquaNut]

Thanks for not shooting the messengers, Eelzor. I know it's a bummer when you don't get the answers you were hoping for. Once you get your cons into a bigger tank, you can try again with your little tank. You could turn into a lovely little home for something smaller and peaceful. Good luck with the baby convicts.

 

[Eelzor]

I now must return the 2 loaches or the 2 convicts. which 2?

and i may be getting a 40g for the 2 loaches is this a good plan?

 

[smb]

I now must return the 2 loaches or the 2 convicts. which 2?

I would return the loaches unless you plan on getting at least a 75g-90g for them when they mature. That would only be for 2 of them, imo.

Edit: I didn't see your edit. That would be fine for now but you will still have to upgrade for them as they mature. If you're willing to do that, then you should be good to go.

 

[Eelzor]

ok, thanks. i believe that tops off all of my questions. thanks. this has been the most informative post ever for me.

Last Comment - I think I will return the convicts and keep the loaches and put the loaches in a larger 80g tank. Thanks All!