Clown Loach Question

[andyb325]

I know clown loaches are fun and like to play. I am wondering what i could put into my tank that they would enjoy. I've heard they like tubes (clear pvc pipe)? i have a 29 gallon with some room to spare. any suggestions that i could do?

[debaric]

i know of many people who use half of a terracotta pot as a cave for them and it works out fine.

people on here are going to tell you that they grow too big for a 29 gallon. im sure it would be fine to start with if theyre really small but im pretty sure you want at least a 75 gallon + to support their growth. Another thing is that they love being in groups of 5+ fish.

[andyb325]

Yah i know i would get that response. i have 2 that are about an 1 1/2 -2 inches in length. By the time they do get too big for my 29 gallon, i will have a new tank. I do have a terracotta pot in there, which works out pretty slick but they havent been a fan of it yet. thanks for the suggestion

[eklikewhoa]

i have ten in my 135 and they love the holey rocks i have in there, sometimes i find two-three loaches squished into one hole about the size of a dollar coin. the shoal of ten is really fun to watch.

they are a bit slow with growing and in a small tank it slow it down a bit more so with the tank you have i would probably do 5 at most depending on what other fish you have in there.

[born2lovefish]

I use clay pots in my 75 gallon for my 5 clowns. They love them!

[andyb325]

thanks for the replies guys.. I think i'll try to find some holey rocks - got any pics? be really neat to see

[TorturedSOUL]

The best thing you could do for your fish is get a bigger tank. :cool2:

[andyb325]

yah tell me something i dont know. But they are 2 inches long for the moment, with plenty of space.. i mentioned up there that i was planning on getting one.

[IceH2O]

I don't how slow you think slow is in growth.

I have 2 clowns 1 was about 2 inches in Dec 05,is now about 5 inches, the other was about 1.5 inches in April/May and is about 3 inches now.

[andyb325]

Yah i know they grow extremely fast.. i knew i would get the lecture over and over here. i have a 55 gall back at school waiting for them. 2 months away, until then they should be fine.

[Roan Art]

A 55g is not big enough for clown loaches. Minimum size is 75g and bigger is better. Mine have also grown pretty darn fast for a fish that is "supposed" to be slow growing. The two I had in the 36g have not grown as much as I thought they would once I moved them to the 75g, but the two I added to the 75g that were 1" in size are almost the same size as the 36g clowns, and are SEVERAL months younger.

IMO they stunt easily in small tanks and if they are not feed well and this contributes to the possible myth that they are slow growing.

My 2 cents only

Roan