How many corys and clown loaches?

My clowns are only about 2 yrs old and are already bigger then 4 inches.

Maybe they are so small in so many cases because people are keeping them in to small a tank and they are being stunted.

I have 2 in a 75 gallon, I'd like to add a 3rd but at the size that I can find them in they'd be eaten by my birchirs and leaf fish.
 
I feel the same way as well. I have never seen a lot of these fish getting THAT big unless someone had a huge tank. Lots of people says it stunts their growth and all, but my fish have always lived long lives.
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but careful, my comments apply to clown loaches only.

if you tried to put a pacu, tinfoil barb, oscars, most south american cichlids, tricolour sharks etc. in your tank I promise you they will get big and outgrow your tank.

its just that it is not so easy with the clowns. Even 8 years down the road.

most people have them for years and years and they usually don't get bigger than about 4 inches. this is the point that they tend to stop at most of the time. Why this is, I'm not sure.

the odd one does, but that is very rare. Rare enough that most people can put a few in a 4 foot tank without too much trouble.

growing them up to 3 or 4 inches isn't the hard part. Its getting them to grow up after that that is difficult for some reason.

the only huge ones I have ever seen have been brought in from Sumatra that way.

clowns tend to grow quicly at first, but then taper off and begin to slow down as they mature.
 
good point^^ I had an oscar once in my 28 gallon and that thing got so big I had to give it to my school. So yeah, I definitley see what you're saying.

So for this 60 gallon, how many loaches should I get with 8 Corys.....just 4?
 
well lets see, most cories get 2-3 inches, lets say your cory gets to 3 inches. (bear with me here, im not going on about the inch per gallon rule) so 8 multiplied by 3 is 24. So 24 inches of fish. Add a few more inches to make up for width of fish. 30 inches of corydoras. Then 4 clown loaches that get to about 4 inches, 16 inches, add a few more, 20 inches. That is 50 inches of fish (on average, may be more or less) to live in a 4 foot (48 inch) tank. It would work out since you have to take into consideration the width of the tank, but i would see the bottom part of the tank quite crowded.
 
I picked up 4 B. Kubotai from my local petsmart several months ago - they were on sale for $10 bucks each. Maybe your Petsmart can order them for you. They would be the best Botia for your set up, and, IMO, would not out compete the cories. Clown loaches should really have a tank that's at least 5 feet long. No disrespect to a previous poster, but loaches that are only 4 inches in 10 years are stunted. Even in a 65g, (which is too small) with lots of food and lots of water changes they should be at about 7-8 inches in ten years. I've hit 4 inches with clown loaches that started at about 2 inches in about a year. I've had them up to 7 inches or so in about 6 or 7 years....that's about when they really slow down. But, to get back on topic, strive to get fish that will be appropriate for the tank you have now - there are never guarantees that you will get that larger tank down the road. Better to buy the fish that will get larger after you already have the right size tank. Best of luck to you!
 
if you got your loaches to grow to 7 inches that is awesome! but I was getting at was your case is more of the exception than the rule.

heck, this info is straight from the species profile right here at aquariacentral:

This bottom feeding fish grows much larger in the wild than it generally does in captivity. While the it may grow up to 12" in the wild, they rarely reach half this size in the home aquarium.

All I am saying is that it is rare to get grow clowns up big in the home aquarium. You were lucky, and that is great!

Sure, a 4 foot tank is not going to be ideal if you are one of the rare lucky ones that grows up massive loaches.

but for the most aquarists, given their infamous growth habits, it should be okay.

and if not, it is not hard to find a home for large loaches. They are very valuable and sought after at that size. Where I used to work we sold a wild caught 8 inch one for $200.

-12 Volt Man
 
picked up 4 B. Kubotai from my local petsmart several months ago - they were on sale for $10 bucks each. Maybe your Petsmart can order them for you. They would be the best Botia for your set up, and, IMO, would not out compete the cories. Clown loaches should really have a tank that's at least 5 feet long. No disrespect to a previous poster, but loaches that are only 4 inches in 10 years are stunted. Even in a 65g, (which is too small) with lots of food and lots of water changes they should be at about 7-8 inches in ten years. I've hit 4 inches with clown loaches that started at about 2 inches in about a year. I've had them up to 7 inches or so in about 6 or 7 years....that's about when they really slow down. But, to get back on topic, strive to get fish that will be appropriate for the tank you have now - there are never guarantees that you will get that larger tank down the road. Better to buy the fish that will get larger after you already have the right size tank. Best of luck to you!
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I guess its just my LFS mentality coming through.

I just don't think the potential disappointment of not keeping the loaches (when you really want them) after spending hundreds of dollars on a 4 foot setup is worth the realistic chance that they will outgrow a 4 foot tank.

its just not that common for most of us.

ps what were you feeding your clowns?

do you still have them?

If you do, please post some pics! Big clowns look awesome!:dance2:
 
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It's not 'luck' that brings you large clowns. I'd say that well over 50% of all posts here involving clowns indicate they are in too small of tanks (and keep in mind the folks here are probably a lot better bunch than average). And newbie folks I'd probably say thats closer to 90% being in too small tanks. 180G is considered the 'minimum' size, so when loach size is primarily based on tanks half this size or less... no wonder why most loaches dont get so big? Almost all loaches in large tanks and good living conditions can get over 8". Its been said many of times that clowns stunt more easily than most fish, further hindering them from growing large. What damage becomes from stunting is debatable, but generally agreed that its at least better for the fish to not be stunted. The folks on loaches.com will even argue that besides a larger tank they also need a lot more flow. They often dont get a good enough diet either, preferring to have some live food and vegies too. They really need to be in large social groups too. A 75G isnt to small if the fish are young and as long as you plan on upgrading soon. I have 6 in my 75G right now and wouldnt keep any less than that. I started 3 of them in a 40G for a couple of months. It is a pain to keep upgrading tanks, better to start with the one you need. But many only upgrade after realizing the requirements later down the road. Once I get mine in my 240G I am going to add at least 3 more and I'll see if these progress at a faster rate being in a bigger tank from the get go. They are awesome fish IMO, but sounds like it might not be well suited for you. Zebras would definitely be my choice for tanks under 100g though, and though I havent kept any I do like the looks of the Kubotia next.
 
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Haven't we already told you this? You can not keep Clowns and Cories together. The Clowns will be bullies and will also out compete the Cories for food.

The reason you don't see Clowns that big is because they are all stunted. One person I know has three Clowns in a five gallon:eek:

aparker, why don't you just get 12 Cories?

Cory Lover
 
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