When A Larger Tank Is Not Possible

[ShinySideUp]

I have six clown loaches in a four foot, 240 litre tank. I bought them when they were very small and was under the mistaken impression that 'they only grow to the size of the tank' so I was a bit naive then. However they are here now and I must do what I can for them. There are many hiding places, the base is sand and everything has been designed around clown loaches and their health. They are in excellent condition.

At the moment the largest clown is just about 3.5" long not including the tail, the smallest is just under 2". The tank is fine for the moment but despite what I want to happen, a larger tank is not going to be possible and I am wondering how long it will be before the tank is not big enough for the largest fish and what do I do then short of killing and eating them (I hear they are rather tasty).

Martin

 

[Wills]

Sell them back to a shop? Or sell them onto someone with a big tank? Once they get to about 4 or 5 inches they can be worth quite a bit - or sell them now and go get a smaller species of Loach like Zebras or Dwarf Chains.

Wills

 

[minnnt]

Zebra and Dwarf Chain loaches are tantastic, very effective indeed. Also Skunk Loaches are fantastic looking fish!

 

[onidrase]

If you can find somebody with a legit 5-6 foot tank, I'd sell them to that person. If not, keep em. selling them back to the shop will likely result in them being sold to some #118#### who will likely keep them alone in a little 2 foot long gravel bottom tank with a cute plastic castle where they will pass away. They'd be better off with you.

I'm not sure if a 4 foot tank will stunt their growth or anything, and while it's not ideal, the fact you're doing what you can for them and giving them a good home with sand substrate and other clown loaches, imo there's nothing wrong with keeping them in that tank until you find somebody with the monster tank they need.

Clown loaches seem to grow rather slowly, so who knows, maybe when they are rather large in size, you'll have room for the 6 footer.