clown loach in 60 ltr biorb

[angelcookie]

hi.....everytime i go to my local aquarium fish shop i always ask advise on what fish go with what and always tell them what i have in my tank already........last week i went and told them i loved the clown loach and asked if i could put one in, i had heard that they liked to be more in a group but the lady assured me that in my tank i could put just one in and it would be fine.....now i am hearing they need a lot of space....could someone please tell me what they think......im getting a bit worried cause pets at home seem to be useless and this shop is supposed to have 30 years experiance

 

[Fishy_Fun]

Sorry to say it but these guys get huge and need to be in groups to be happy.Just search google for sizes, they get huge.

 

[Lupin]

A 60 liter biorb is very small.:headshake2: Clown loaches do grow steadily at 11 inches max in captivity even though it may take several years but this is no excuse to keep them in tanks smaller than a 75g. I'd get a 20g long and start with either Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki or Pangio kuhlii.

 

[LeahK]

I bought clown loaches once, like you did, on the bad advice of a pet store. I loved them, but after reading and learning more about them, I realized that I couldn't care for them in the long term. I gave them to a great new owner who'll have them in a 180 gallon tank.
Like Lupin said, a group of young clowns really needs a minimum of 75 gallons (that's about 285 liters). This page gives good information: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/clown-loach-chromobotia-macracanthus

 

[angelcookie]

thankyou everyone for replying.......i am going to take the loach back to the shop, its not fair on it keeping it in there and while in the shop will have a word with the women selling me it, i always tell them what tank i got and whats in there so she should never have sold it to me, its a shame cause i think i have fallen in love with him

 

[jpappy789]

Good idea. Who knows, there might be a bigger tank in your future, one suitable for clown loaches.

 

[LeahK]

You're doing the right thing! I know it's hard--I still miss my clowns.
I'd be interested to hear what the shop lady's response is, after you have a word with her Post back and let us know.