Clown Loaches.

fshfanatic

AC Members
Apr 7, 2006
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Arizona
Real Name
Mike
I know they grow very slowly. But, how long will it take for a pod of 2" juveniles to reach 10" in a 240 gallon tank being feed live black worms?
 
Lots of variables in growth rate, food amount & frequency, water changes, internal parasite load, dominance in the group pecking order. IME they grow fairly fast from 2 to 4 inches, moderately to 6 inches then much more slowly. The largest I've ever grown were ~7+ (SL, + tail ) inches after maybe 8 years starting with 1.5 inch clowns but some were a bit smaller.
 
And from what I've seen, the likelihood is the entire pod will never reach that size. there seems to usually be a pecking order, as fishorama said, that becomes obvious as some grow large and others stay small. You'll usually end up with a variance or several inches.
 
I get that from what I have read, I am planning on getting a pod of 10 and feeding 3 X a day. 20% water changes weekly.
 
20% is probably not enough, at least after your 2 inchers begin to grow. That said, I never started out in a 240g, more like a 4 ft 55-75g. Keep an eye on shoal dynamics & nitrate level feeding 3x. I'm a generous feeder & 2x is the most I ever did, you want good growth but not obesity :shakehead: or high nitrates (over say 20ppm). Of course we'll need pics...please!. I had to give up my latest batch of clowns & will be starting overagain... soon, I hope.
 
Well feeding is one thing but the other key is keeping them in very good water conditions. Also remember they will probably grow at different rates.
 
Second that we need pictures!
 
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