Clown Loaches.

[fshfanatic]

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?

 

[fishorama]

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.

 

[angyles]

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.

 

[fshfanatic]

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.

 

[fishorama]

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.

 

[smitty]

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.

 

[owenodin]

Second that we need pictures!