clown loaches vs plants

[ghost_deini]

I have 5 clown loaches which are about 3" long in a 75 gallon and they are destroying every plant I add. I used to feed them cucumber and other veggies but I have recently tried to switch them to a more protien rich diet in hopes they will leave my plants alone. I have been feeding brine and mysis shrimp as well as beefheart. I also feed sprialina flakes sparingly.
The worst part is they attack things they aren't supposed to like my anubias and java fern.
I have been wondering if the lack of veggies is what has made them eat my plants more.
Is there anything you could recomend to try?

My ulitmate solution is to get the loaches out of my planted tank and get them their own 125+ gal. But I dont have the cash or the room for that big of a tank now.

[EmilyMarie85]

I have 6 clowns in a 75g planted tank, all under 2" - but when they get bigger they are getting the boot...

A few years ago I made the mistake of putting larger clowns in a planted tank - they tore it apart. Not only do they eat everything, but when schooling on the bottom of the tank they are like a wrecking ball. The dig in the substrate and move around so quickly that they uproot stuff... a lot.

[ghost_deini]

Thank you for your response. Yes they do tear everything apart, I just had to replant 2 sagittarias this morning! (http://mikeswetpets.com/Detail.bok?no=155)

[EmilyMarie85]

If you can't move the clowns to a different tank, and don't want to re-home them, then I would suggest trying to split the tank up, sort-to-speak. Plant 1/2 the tank with the more delicate, easily uprooted plants and the other 1/2 with hardier, harder to uproot plants (like val) and all the rock/driftwood. Not exactly the best scape I know but that way the clowns will hopefully spend most their time on the 1/2 of the tank with the hard scape, where all the hiding spots are :)

[fishorama]

My clowns eat plants if I don't feed veggies often enough, 2-3 times a week. Swords & most crypts are gone now, java fern & anubias left alone...so far. As they grow I've heard no plants are safe from large clowns. I have 3 ~4-5 inches & 3 2.5 inches.

Why don't you just feed veggies, they're less expensive than plants? Mine love romaine, zucchini & leaf lettuce.

[ghost_deini]

I was wondering if feeding veggies was causing the problem or lack of veggies making them eat the plants more. It does make sense that they would eat the plants if their veggie appetite was not satisfied. Thank you for your input

[DLV082]

I have 6 clowns ranging in size from 4" to 8" in a 180g planted and don't have any problems with them damaging the plants. I feed a variety of foods earthworms, spiralina tabs, blood worms, flake and sinking food as well as fresh veges. Sorry to hear yours are making a mess of your plants.

[ghost_deini]

I have been feeding more veggies and the plant murder has subsided a bit, but I still catch them clicking my plants. They particularly liked the sagittaria and killed 3 of them but for some reason they leave the jungle val alone. thanks for your replies