Clown Loach outgrow tank?

The recommended tank size that I have seen is 55g I think. I can't do that at all. I have to fight to do 30g. If I can't do bigger should I not even bother? Or is any little bit of space better than nothing?
 
If I were you I'd take the clown loach back. I read that the smallest tank they should be kept in is a 65 gallon, this is also because its preferable to have 5 or 6 of them... Maybe you should go for some yoyo's or zebra loaches? Zebras look really cool, and they only grow to 10cm so you could keep 4 or 5 in a 30 gallon. Just monitor them with your betta though (as always).

HTH
Ryan
 
Poor Clown Loach. I made the same mistake 3 years ago, but I quickly upgraded to a 33g within a week or so. Then about 6 months later, I needed to upgrade to a 90g tank. I've been building or buying new larger tanks since. I'm up to 300g total now. I will need an indoor pond of atleast 1,000 gallons for my Clown Loaches in a few years.
 
would finding a longer tank at 30 g be better than an average rectangle 30 g? I have all bottom feeders except my betta. I won't be accomodating other loaches at this point.
 
Fishylisa, despite what others would say, and what might be the "idealist" advice that you most often get from objective parties, I say if the fish appear happy and healthy and you enjoy them, that's what is important. Clown Loaches are slow growing (compared to some other fish). I have two in a 125 that I've had for 6 months. They started at 2 inches and are now 4 inches. Most older Clown Loaches I've seen (15+years) aren't any bigger than 6 inches, but are well filled out. You obviously know that you need to go bigger than 15g, but I'd say you have at least 6 months before the Loach appears to need a bigger tank. Your best bet later on would be 48X18X20 which is a 75gallon. This would be a good home for at least 2 Clown Loaches and a few other top side fish. You could go to a 30 gallon long/low. This would buy you some more time, but eventually, the fish will need to go to a permanant home of greater size. How's your LFS? Maybe you could keep him for a year in a 30 gallon and then donate him to your LFS if a larger tank is not an option. I'm sure a 4-6" Clown Loach would go to another home quickly. JMO.
 
actually in a year or two, I might be able to do something bigger than a 30. My husband and I are just very tight in our 1 bd room and on spending freeze to save money for a house , which is hard when your in credit card debit, which should be gone in a year. The problem is that I have to sell these ideas to him...which I don't think will be as much "selling" in a year, when he doesn't see our savings dripping away just for a bigger tank. There are other ligistics, but when the road comes...thank you for a less idealistic, but rater dealing witht he situation at hand response. Also I really don't want to give the little guy up at all, I am soo attached to all my pets.

Now, off to celebrate mother's day!! Happy day to all you mommies!

Lisa
 
By the way,
thanks everyone else for providing info on ideal conditions to work for.I think I need to work up to those conditions at this point. I really appreciate all your advice. If there is more to be added, I'd like to know.

Lisa
 
If anyone is still reading this thread... how fast DO loaches grow?

I wanted to add some to my tank, and had heard they only grow about an inch a year.
 
Fishylisa, sounds like your doing fine. Most of us in the hobby that really care for our fish try to do the best for them. The problem is that life is not ideal. All of us have different situations (money, space, time, etc.) that dictate our setups and how we take care of our charges. You will find tons of great information on this forum from a lot of really intelligent people. The problem is the medium (the net) we are using. It's so easy to give ideal, objective, detached advice that may be correct, but it's not a perfect world. We are all on this forum for a reason....information. I doubt if the best among us has the perfect setup for any fish he/she has...there is always something that could be better. That's the hobby. Anyway, enough pontification.

pbecot01, I can't give you an inches per year estimation on Clown Loach growth. All fish will grow faster if fed more and less if fed less. Some fish will reach their adult size in less than a year (Oscars for example) no matter how much you feed them, and others will take a couple of years. Also, it depends on the individual fish and their temperment. I have two Clowns, and one is very aggresive during feeding time, and the other is not. Hence, the aggressive on is twice the size of the other. I can only tell you what I have observed. I bought my "medium" clowns at 2 inches 4 months ago. One is a fat 4 inches and the other is a thin 3 inches. At their current rate, I don't see them getting to 6 inches for at least another year. I feed 2-3 light feedings a day. You may check Loaches.com for more info. I haven't read all the way through the site, but it seems like a good site.
 
As was suggested before why not just return the clown loach? Since you obviously can't buy a new bigger tank for 1 or 2 more years I woudl take the time to set aside money now for such a purchase and get ready for your clown loach school at that time.

Speaking from experience I moved back home for awhile as my job moved me. I figured after a month I would go out and get a new apartment or look into gettign a house. I was going to get some rosey barbs (up to 5 inches) and a new tank but decided to hold off. That was a good idea as I didn't end up getting the chance to move out for another year and a half. That would have been one grossly overstocked 10 gallon tank.

Plans change and priorities change. I just bought a house and can't afford a bigger tank just yet. Once again I am glad I held off on any purchses.
 
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