clown loach

[Gretchen]

I would like to get a clown loach for my tank. I only have a 55 gallon right now. How long would one be happy in a tank that size? The only tankmates I have right now are 10 tiger barbs. Thanks.

 

[YoFishboy]

If it were me, I would get at least three for them to be happy...clown loaches are relatively slow growing and would be ok for quite a while in a 55g..make sure you choose nice active, chubby loaches and look out for ich...when I introduce new loaches, I use Aquarisol at half strength for about a week to ten days...been lucky with no outbreaks at all using this method (knock on wood!) Enjoy...great fish!

 

[Gretchen]

What size tank would they need when they out grow this one? How long do you think it would take for them to out grow the 55?

 

[N8DOGG]

They will get to be about a Foot, but they will also be like 10yrs old, their growth will depend on how much you feed, what type of food(high protein), how often you change water, so I would say that they might grow 1" a year with out power feeding and power water changes. I have 5 or 6 or is it 7 in my 55 can't always locate them all at the same time. I'm getting a 90 gallon sunday and they will go in that. The 90 is 18" wide so they would be ok, but I do plan on a 225 8foot by 30" wide. Bigger is always better

 

[TorturedSOUL]

A foot? My LFS has a 15-20 year old clown loach that is about 6-8 inches long. I think a foot is an over statement

 

[TwoTankAmin]

No a foot is not an overstament- I have seen them at that size in person. Go here for some pics Bob's Clowns

 

[N8DOGG]

A foot? My LFS has a 15-20 year old clown loach that is about 6-8 inches long. I think a foot is an over statement

I don't think its an understatement its that people rarely house these fish in large enough tanks and don't usually keep them for 20 years. The small tanks will stunt the growth of any fish so if you start with a CL in a 10 and wait till it out grows the tank then its too late.

 

[cohazard]

A foot? My LFS has a 15-20 year old clown loach that is about 6-8 inches long. I think a foot is an over statement

N8DOGG is right. When kept in less than optimal conditions (poor water quality, inadequate space, poor nutrition, etc...) clowns will not reach their potential.

Clowns actually grow to 18" in the wild, but only 2" or shorter sized specimens are allowed to be exported.

So either your LFS has been keeping the loach under poor conditions, or whoever took the loach to your LFS, kept it under poor conditions. If the loach is by itself, it's probably stressed out to the point of stunted growth. Clowns need friends. They are one of the few fish that honestly need "friends".


HTH,
Serg