I want clown loaches!!!

[keane]

Hi guys,

I seriously want to add three clown loaches to my 30 gallon tank (4' x 1' x 1.5')which is fully cycled (...ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 25-30, PH 7 - 7.5, temp 26 degrees). The tank is running with a fluval 203 external canister and the water is crystal clear.

I presently have: -

4 gourami (2 opaline, 2 three spot)
2 blue rams
4 platys
4 leopard corys
2 sucking loach/CAE

The CAE are going back to the LFS (they seem to keep fighting with my rams and I also now realise from research that they grow pretty damn big too) to thats 2 down.

i know the clowns can grow to about 6" each but do you think I would have room for them to be "happy" or would I be overcrowding?

If the water quality would be the only issue then I am happy to buy another filter (thinking of getting a fluval 2+ internal)

all advices or suggestions hugely appreciated.

cheers

tbr

 

[The-Wolf]

sorry your tank is way too small for clown loaches

 

[keane]

thanks Wolf.

not to be ignorant but.......too small or too full?

if it really is too small at 4 feet long what size tank am i looking at to be able keep some clowns?

thanks

tbr

 

[The-Wolf]

too small
the general consensus is at least 55 gallons for small clowns going up to at least 70 gallons for 6" speciamins and above.
I have 4 in a 72 gallon and I'm already starting to think this tank is not going to be big enough for them.

 

[sunflower]

I thought that loaches get to about 12" in an aquarium? If so then they'll hardly be able to turn around in there.

 

[keane]

thanks again Wolf.

time to start saving the pennys then (and to get rid of some furniture to fit a new tank in!! )

cheers

tbr.

 

[endilliteracy]

Yea, I really want some clown loaches as well but I only have a 30 gallon too. Everytime I go to the LPS I see them and want to take all of them home! But I know they will outgrow my tank and be very unhappy/unhealthy because of it. I'll wait until I get a bigger tank to get some clown loaches. Maybe 3 in a 75 would do well?

 

[stangster]

Hi,

I have a 4 small loaches in a 29 gallon. I got them knowing that eventually, I will need a bigger tank. No big deal since I've wanted a larger tank from the beginning. Since you seem like a caring fish keeper, I don't see the harm in getting the loaches now and upgrading your tank later when they get larger.

My LFS says when they reach 4", you should get at least a 60 to 75 gallon. He also says in the 20 years he's been in business, he's never seen a c-loach larger than 8" in aquaria regardless of tank size. He's seen an 11", but it was imported from it's original habitat.

Also, I see lots of people who have lots of stuff in the tank other than fish. Makes for a great looking tank, but where's the swimming room? Does that add or take away from the room issue?

Out of curiosity, does anyone here own a clown loach larger than 6"? I would love to see a pic since I've never seen them larger than 4". How tall are they at that size?

 

[endilliteracy]

He could get the loaches and upgrade to a larger tank later, but he must be positive he will have the funds to upgrade to a larger tank once the fish start to outgrow it's current one.

 

[Sanj]

Clown loaches rarely reach 12" even in large aquariums. 12" is what they can attain and often in the wild.

In the aquaria even a sizable home one ~ 100 UK gals, they are probably going to reach 8-9".

I have 5 in my largest tank...they are great fellas unfortunate thing about being so susceptible to white spot though.

 

[pnyklr3]

This might sound a little off, but I really thought that my 55 gallon was 48"x12"x18" Am I wrong? If this is the case, then doesn't he have a 55 gallon and not a 30 gallon?

 

[jflowers]

You are correct US gallons wise pnyklr3 Not bad for small clowns, most are in much smaller tanks.

[EDIT: I make that 169L 44 US gallons, 38 UK gallons}

Jon

 

[endilliteracy]

His tank is 4 feet long so it must be larger than a 30 gallon because I have a 29 gallon and it is about 2 feet long.

 

[fufanu360]

most 30's are 3 feet long, much too small for clown loaches

 

[FrAnK3333]

Am I wrong but I have been told by many that clown loaches only grow an inch a year.