Clown Loaches with Electric Yellow Labidochromises?

E

electricyellow

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Dec 13, 2002
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Can Clown Loaches Be Kept With Electric Yellow Labidochromises?

I am thinking about setting up a 45 gallon aquarium with some electric yellows, some corys, and some loaches. I was wondering if this sort of fish combination would work. If a 45 is too small for all of these fish, then I do have a 75 that I could put them into. I've read somewhere that Electric Yellows are somewhat peaceable even though they're African Cichlids. The Corys also shouldn't be a problem but what about the loaches? Would they pick on the other guys? Would the other guys pick on them? I have just recently become fascinated with loaches and am dying to keep them, even if they'll need their own tank. Also, if I can keep the loaches with the others, how many should I buy without being over stocked in both the 45 and/or the 75? As you can see, I have alot of questions. Any information or help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You ---- David.
 
Electric, clown loaches get REALLY big - like 10-12" long - and they need to be kept in groups. Three is an absolute minimum, IMO. You could probably keep small clown loaches in the 45 for a while, but eventually they'd outgrow it. I've kept clown loaches and corys together with no problems. Clowns have a tendency to only spar among themselves. I'm not sure about the electric yellows - I've never kept them - but if they're territorial and the clowns are, too, you'll have conflict. The cichlid just might lose, too, because clown loaches have retractable spines under they eyes for weapons. I know - I've been spined and it HURTS.

Loaches are my passion, too. They are smart, hardy (once you get them acclimated) and have great personalities. Wonderful fish. You can keep them with anything not too aggressive (although some loaches are MEAN, clown loaches are not).
 
I have a yellow lab with my clowns in a 125 with absolutely no problems. The lab is pretty mellow and may make a run at another tankmate but no damage. He does his side shake thing occasionally also (more bark than bite). The clowns ignore him and he pretty much ignores them.

Susan says no problems with clowns and cories but I would be a little concerned the clowns would run the cories over when they get big (not on purpose but they tend to bulldoze everything in their path when it is feeding time). My largest clown is 7" and I would hate to be a cory in his way when he saw a shrimp pellet! I am not disagreeing with Susan at all but I would watch them as the clowns increase in length and mostly in girth!! I would do the cories in the 45 and the clowns and labs in the 75 but of course that is just my opinion and I'm sure you will get many more good ones here. Best of luck!
 
Catjo, you're right. The clowns DO bulldoze everything in their path!! Cories are pretty smart, tho, and soon learn to get out of the way.

Cories in the 45 and clown loaches in the 75 sounds good, but don't hesitate to put the cories and the clown loaches together if that's what works out best. I had my clown loaches for over 10 years and they got to be over 8" (not including tail). I had cories for most of that time, and nobody ever got hurt.
 
Good to know Susan! I have smaller clowns 2-3" in with cories in my grow out tank but move them to the 125 when they get bigger than that so I didn't know. I have no problems with the small ones though so I guess if they grow up together they will learn to get out of the way as the clowns grow. Sounds like a great tank since I love them both!
 
Catjo, they get out of the way no matter what! ;) It really is a nice combination, no matter how big the clowns get.

One word of advice, though. Feed sinking food at both ends of the tank or your cories may go hungry when the clowns get bigger. Clowns are greedy pigs and will bully anyone they can with food, then be best buddies after the food is gone.
 
Clown plecos grow slowly,they don't bulldoze everything in their path of u keep a small number like in pairs,they would hide more that way.
 
I'd be most concerned about the different water requirements. Don't clown loaches do best in neutral or slightly acidic soft water, whereas labs do best in hard, alkaline water?

Jim
 
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