How many loaches???

[DLV082]

Question. How many clown loaches could be comfortably maintained in a 180g tank with no other inhabitants? Assume that the tank maintainence is good, at least 50 - 70% weekly wc minimum.

[archer772]

I am just guessing but when full grown (12-16 inches) I would think 6-10 with 6 being ideal and 10 pushing it but like I said I am just guessing. I will also say this I usually understock when it comes to larger fish

[Big Dog]

They can grow up to 2 feet some times biger.

[ryukin_5]

heres a link to a stocking calculator it works good imho.... hope it helps!!

[ryukin_5]

sorry link= http://aqadvisor.com/AqAdvisor.php?AquTankName=&AquListBoxTank=Choose&AquTankLength=48&AquTankDepth=12&AquTankHeight=21&AquListBoxFilter=Marineland+Penguin+150B&AquTextFilterRate=30+&AquListBoxFilter2=Marineland+Penguin+200B&AquTextFilterRate2=50+&AquListBoxFilter3=Marineland+Penguin+200B&AquTextFilterRate3=50+&AquFilterString=&AquListBoxChooser=Sterbai+Cory+%28Corydoras+sterba i%29&AquTextBoxQuantity=&AquTextBoxRemoveQuantity=&FormSubmit=%3C+Remove&AquListBoxSelected=11+x+Cardinal+Tetra+%28Parachei rodon+axelrodi%29&AlreadySelected=200909300039%3A11%3A%3A&FilterMode=Display+all+species&AqTempUnit=C&AqVolUnit=gUS&AqLengthUnit=inch&AqSortType=cname&FilterQuantity=3&AqJuvMode=&AqSpeciesWindowSize=short&AqSearchMode=simple

[jasonG75]

BUT BUT it TAKES a long long time for them to reach this size in PERFECT conditions.

[Izzy2]

Starting off with 8 to 12 in a 180g will be comfortable. They are a tight knit community. At some point in the future they will need to be rehomed, but that seems far off.

Six are now living in a planted 75g. With 50% weekly water changes and over filtration they seem happy. Some were purchased at 1 inch and have grown an inch a year for 5 years. Others were 3-4 inches and now are over 6 inches in length. The largest in now 8'+. They will keep your attention with their antics.

[fishorama]

^^ I agree 8-12 seems reasonable. If you start with small clowns 180g will seem way understocked. You may want to have some "dither" fish, mid sized barbs or rasboras that will live long enough for the clowns to grow big but not so long as to crowd them. Sort of planned obsolescence, shorter lifespan vs clown longer 1 & eventual size.

[vr6fan]

ive raised loaches for years..i am assuming unless you get really lucky and score some bigger ones that you are starting off with small ones. In that case if you are only going with cls you can put at least 20 in there. This may sound like a lot but they take FOREVER to grow big...I have some that are 3 years old and only about 4 inches..once they reach 6 inches they REALLY slow down in growth. Im sure people will say they have some that are fast growers but trust me the species in general are one of the slowest growing out there

[ianab]

Fully grown, I would say about 8. But like the others have said, it might take 10 years or more for them to get that big.

So the options of some shorter lived fish is a good one. A big school of Tiger Barbs might suit, as they have a similar look to the loaches, and are another active fish. But 5 years would be their max lifespan. But that time the loaches would have some size.

Other option is to buy about 20 loaches to start with. That should be OK until they get to about 6". Then start selling them off. Large clown loaches are popular and easy to sell. Have a couple of sell offs over the years and end up with the 8 biggest and best ones.

Ian

[Sawyer]

I agree, clowns take forever to grow. http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=20906&start=0

You could probably have even more than 20 if you had really good filtration and did enough water changes. http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=8460&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=255 This person has 30+ and other fish in a 120 and they have perfect parameters.

[jasonG75]

You know what I would DO????? I would get 10 Clowns, 1 Dojo (not golden) 5 Khulis and maybe 3 Borders or 4 Yoyo's.

But that's just me, I love Loaches

[DLV082]

Ok now I am confused I have already got 6 clown loaches in my 180g community tank largest being 'Norman' who is 8 - 9" and the smallest is 3". I was planning on relocating them to their own 180g and adding a few more with this lot in the tank, how many more could I add? I don't like to get rid of fish once I have purchased them. But some could be relocated in the long run back into the existing 180g community tank.

Pics of some of my current loaches.

[fishycat]

I like what ianab is saying here. You could get a couple more, but it will take them awhile to grow out. That is why they're suggesting dithers & tiger bars - these fish have shorter lifespans, so they can coexist while the smaller loaches grow out, and then when these smaller fish pass away (5 years?) then the clowns will have room to grow & swim without other fish in the way.

That way you won't have to worry about selling off some of your babies later (with the "buy 20" method).


Fully grown, I would say about 8. But like the others have said, it might take 10 years or more for them to get that big.

So the options of some shorter lived fish is a good one. A big school of Tiger Barbs might suit, as they have a similar look to the loaches, and are another active fish. But 5 years would be their max lifespan. But that time the loaches would have some size.

Other option is to buy about 20 loaches to start with. That should be OK until they get to about 6". Then start selling them off. Large clown loaches are popular and easy to sell. Have a couple of sell offs over the years and end up with the 8 biggest and best ones.

Ian

[fishorama]

Since you already have some good sized loaches (you didn't say that at first), you could add maybe 2-3 more. Very nice loaches, I think Norman might be Norma judging by shape. They look well cared for.

[DLV082]

Thanks fishorama,
I agree that Norman is probably a Norma but the name has been with him/her for alot of years now so it is not likely to change now. Ok 2 more and some dithers in the interum.

Another question will the new arrivals being that much smaller than the existing loaches have any problems? I have never experienced any aggression with my loaches but they have been together for alot of years.

Thanks all.

[ianab]

Generally OK. Loaches quickly establish a social structure in the group. The smaller ones will know their place, bottom of the ladder, and the larger ones will pretty much leave them alone.

A lot of the loach "play" is actually social posturing as they work out who is "boss", but it very seldom results in any injury.

Ian

[fishorama]

Please don't skip quarantine! I treat my new loaches for nematodes just in case. You don't want to risk your long time loachy friends.

I don't think you'll have problems adding small clowns but it might be good to add a few new hiding spots or rearrange things a little.

[loachguy]

They can grow up to 2 feet some times biger.


And, you know this because?

[andyjs]

They can grow up to 2 feet some times biger.
Yeah, that's a bit ridiculous. The largest I've ever seen photographic evidence of was like 16" and it can take upwards of 20 years to get that large.

I've only had most of my clowns a year and they've shown a little growth in that time. My two that I've had a little longer have shown around 1" of growth per year up to a little over 4". They have shown SUPER slow growth even though they eat like pigs.

[DLV082]

Please don't skip quarantine! I treat my new loaches for nematodes just in case. You don't want to risk your long time loachy friends.

I don't think you'll have problems adding small clowns but it might be good to add a few new hiding spots or rearrange things a little.

Don't worry fishorama, I would never introduce a fish into an existing tank without QT. Norman and I have been together too long to take that sort of unnecessary risk. But as for rearranging things this will be a completely new tank for all the inhabitants. Have not decided how to aquascape the tank yet but think I will go with driftwood and plants as that is what my existing loaches are used to. Probably more driftwood and less plant.