Clown loach look-alike

Debisbooked

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Oct 20, 2005
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Fremont Ohio
I like the look of clown loaches but don't have the large tank they need. Is there any other fish that look like them (orangy striped) that would work in a smaller freshwater tank?
 
khuli loaches are a simmilar pattern, but stay much smaller. They dont have the same shape as clowns, there more eel like (long, slender bodies) but are interesting little buggers. You should keep a few, 5-6, so they dont feel threatened and hide all the time.
 
Thanks joephys for the suggestion of Distichodus sexfasciatus. They do look alot like clown loaches, but unfortunately what little I read about them indicated that they can get twice as big as the clowns. One guy said he had to find a new home for his after it grew to be 33 inches!
 
I've read about tiger barbs and I like their looks but wonder if they will bother my very timid black skirt tetra's? Does anyone have experience with these two groups being together?
 
Debisbooked said:
I've read about tiger barbs and I like their looks but wonder if they will bother my very timid black skirt tetra's? Does anyone have experience with these two groups being together?
Quite possible. They are schooling fish also. Learned both of those the hard way.
edit: yes tiger barbs are nippers. if they get bored they can be mean.
 
I don't reccommend tiger barbs for anything but a "semi-aggressive" community tank. The other fish they are housed with have to be able to hold their own in the face of these little guys. They will fin nip the hell out of any fish if they are left in smaller shoals. Best to try and keep them in shoals larger than six, that way they only really pester eachother. But still, even in larger shoals in my experience they will go after other fish.
 
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