Clown Loach outgrow tank?

As i think I posted in this thread, I am too attched and I am not one to give things up because I wasn't prepared to deal with them. I like to take responsibility for my actions, expecially when there is life in the equasion, no matter how seemingly insignificant, replaceable, or easy it is to just give back.I also bought him from a pet store out of town in november. Not that THAT matters, because I like my loach.

I wouldn't bring it to a pet shop here because they sell loaches to ppl with 10 gallon tanks, so which situation is worse? I can't imagine my little guy going another home like that!

I am not starving because of this decision, so I figure I can work it out...and there is my train of though...though it was a little more stream-of-conscious when it actually happened;)
 
Just wanted to throw this out. You can get a larger tank and all of the hardware cheap oftentimes from people getting out of the hobby. Check your local paper classifieds. Also, join a local fish club. This is often the best way to get great secondhand stuff, well cared for, and really cheap. You'll have access to a huge network of people with stuff to get they want to get rid of for various reasons. Any one of these ways could be used to get into a larger tank for pennies on the dollar.
 
I already bought a 30L gallon set-up today. Shopped around and got the best deals I could. Pondering how to do a partial sand/pebble substrate set-up. I am too impatient, I wanted to get the stuff today!

Thanks fo the help though!

Lisa
 
where did my post on this thread go???????????????????????
you cant silence me!!!!!

:rant2: :thud: :coffee2: :) :devil: :argue: :argue:

on a serious note, do not fret you clown should be ok in your tank. clowns in the wild get to 12", in capitivity i have personally seen true 8" fish and those are about as large as i have seen. Truth be told, no one actually knows how to raise these fish properly yet. They have never been breed in an aquarium yet either. Maybe they aren't getting something in their food, who knows. Don't feel bad, you are not condemning your fish, down the road you might want to invest in a 75 gallon for the clowns though.
 
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Actually we used to have a member here at AC who did a spectacular job of rearing Clowns, but I don't believe that he bred them. The way to grow them normally appeared to be space, feeding, space, excellent water quality, and space.

There have been several aquarium spwnings of Clowns, mostly unintentional.
 
RTR said:
The way to grow them normally appeared to be space, feeding, space, excellent water quality, and space.
Click to expand...

Are there any fish that don't need space, a decent diet, and excellent water quality (ammonia=0, nitrites=0, nitrates=low)? I'm not looking for a fish to abuse, but more to find out if this type of statement is really worth saying in regards to a particular fish.

I recently got hooked on puffers, and have heard similar statements. On the other end of the spectrum, I've had Bettas for awhile, and these fish also need more space and fresh water than is usually given to them.

I've also heard that a clown loach needs a 200+ gallon tank. Once they grow to full-size, they need room to swim. Since at least three must be kept together, and they get territorial when they mature, the room is needed. This is why I turned in my six 4" clown loaches, even though they were awesome fish.
 
Too often on the fish forums, people are more interested in the absolute minimum space allowance per fish, plus the absolute maximum number of fish in a given tank size. Neither of those situations is likely to be best for the fish involved. When you add to that the issue of some of the same folks wanting to do absolute minimum water partials at maximum intervals, the fish will never be in optimum conditions.

If you want suggested conditions, from Fishbase (which rarely does tank suggestions):

"Maximumum size: 30.0 cm TL

Environment: demersal; freshwater; pH range: 5 - 8; dH range: 5 - 12

Climate: tropical; 25 - 30°C

Biology: Feeds on worms, crustaceans and plant matter. Aquarium keeping: aggressive; in groups of 5 or more individuals; minimum aquarium size 150 cm."

BTW, 150 cm = ~5 feet.
 
That sucks that you had to get rid of your Clowns. I recently had to turn in some fish that I really liked because I couldn't provide them with the proper conditions they will need as they grow. More often that not most of us do our research after we have aquired our fish. It's just human nature. Your interest is peaked when you have the fish....not when it's just a thought and still sitting in the pet store. Not saying its right, just that it happens. A Clown Loach needs a 200 gallon tank is idiotic. I've posted it before and it made some people mad, but my LFS has a display tank of their own personal pets. It's a 100 gallon with 15 or so 4" Clown Loaches in it. Not to mention a few top-side fish. The biggest Clown is a well filled out 4+ inches or more and they are all 16+ years old. They have been there as long as I can remember. The fish are all really healthy and appear happy...doing typical Clown stuff. As far as the fish density of the 100g, it doesn't look anymore crowded than a typical 10 gallon tank with 8 Tetras in it. A lot of people will say that 15 Clowns in a 100g is mean, but having fish that are still alive and beautiful after 16 years in the setup says that your doing something right. And I'd say that these fish are alot more happy than being alone in a 200g.
 
1/3? I've heard 12 also, but only in the wild - six and under for aquariums. Most Clowns I've seen are 6 or less. The largest one I've ever seen with my own eyes was a huge 10 inches and 5 inches in diameter. It was in a 500g with a 4ft Arowana....and they were by themselves. The Clown was a reported 40 years old. Most people you talk to will report that 12 is in the wild only. So maybe all Clown Loaches are stunted in aquariums if 6" is about the max. (normally)? Even if the Clowns are stunted in the 100g does that make them unheathy? They are some of the most beautiful Clowns I've ever seen.
 
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