Clown Loach outgrow tank?

[FisheyLisa]

i have a clown loach. He (I assume it is male) is young, maybe an inch-inch and a half. He's in my 15 and I know he will need a bigger place, but considering he is a slow grower is there any approximation of when that will be? Tank load is in my sig. I don't think that is a prob. I need to hold off as long a possible before gettting a big tank as it will probably be a year or two before I have a house (the apt is packed).

Right now, he swims all around, actively acting devilish chomping plants, uprooting things, etc. I want to get him a buddy, but not till I move to another tank, then actually I want to get a school of them. Right now he thinks he is an em.cory since I have 4 of those and he is about their size.

Will he act different, or will I just know because he is obviously too big for the tank? how many years till they are adults?

Thanks!
lisa

 

[RTR]

The issue with clown loaches is not that they overgrow the tank, but that they are very easily stunted being kept in small tanks, so that they never grow up as they should.

 

[FisheyLisa]

so this is happening already? does it cause serious heath risks?

 

[FisheyLisa]

also what is the smallest size that I could get away with? it's in a 15g now.

 

[bigzwvu]

You not only need a larger tank, but need 1 if not 2 more loaches as well.

 

[FisheyLisa]

I knew that, my plan when i could afford a bigger tank, $$ and space. so if, at this point it stays in the 15g, are here serious effects?

 

[sublime1184]

It could be stunted allready, but I doubt it, 1.5 inch fish in a 15g is not going to stunt IMO, but I would upgrade ASAP, and go big immediately, just go 15g to the biggest you will ever need for them.

 

[roninmagik1]

I have 2 clown loaches in a 20 gallon long, along with 1 pleco and 4 panda corys. The loaches and the corys get along and sometimes follow each other around like a big pack. I think it's cool! =) I'm also interested in the "stunting" effect. How can you tell if they're growing abnormally?

 

[sublime1184]

well the biggest tell tale sign is that if within two months the fish usually grow 3 inches, look to see if they have done that in another two months. I also have heard of a physical deformation, where right before the caudal fin there is what looks like a dent like a zag between body and caudal fin, whether or not this is true I am not sure of but so far I believe only way to tell is keeping track of growth rate.

 

[RTR]

Lets put it this way, popular aquarium myth say that Clowns are slow growing. They are not.