medium SA/CA's and clown loaches?

[H3D]

I've kept clown loaches with a wide wide wide variety of South Americans and Africans. I would buy them about an inch long. I had one for 5 years in a 55 and it only grew to about 4-5 inches. So you have plenty of time to save for your 180 gallon tank. :dance2:

Clown loaches should grow much faster than that. If it only grew to 5 inches in 5 years it was most likely stunted. Clowns should grow to be 4-5 inches in less than two years if properly taken care of.

 

[debaric]

Clown loaches should grow much faster than that. If it only grew to 5 inches in 5 years it was most likely stunted. Clowns should grow to be 4-5 inches in less than two years if properly taken care of.

This contradicts everything ive read about clown loach growth, so what would you say is proper care that will help them grow faster? more filtration? more small daily feedings? varying foods?

 

[H3D]

Most of the information available about clown loaches is not completely accurate. The best way to find out information about them is to talk to others who have had great success with theirs. It is important to note that loaches do much better when kept in groups of no less than 3, but I’m starting to believe that 5 is more suitable to their normal behavior. Granted clown loaches grow slower than most other fish, but there are numerous aquarists on the internet whose clown loaches have shown growth rates that were thought to only be possible in the wild. From what I have read and heard from others water quality is the single most important factor in clown loach growth. What are your water parameters? What is the water temperature? What is the tank setup like? Do they have enough places to hide? How many other fish are in the aquarium? These can all have an impact as well. I have also been advised to perform multiple daily feedings of various foods. They especially like to eat blood worms. Make sure that they are actually getting to eat their food. Their aquarium should have good current as well as filtration. The amount of filtration will vary depending of the type of filter.

 

[Burtess]

180 gallon aquarium is 72"L x 24"W x 24"H this should be considered the minimum for a full grown clown loach.

55 Gallon:
12 Trignonostigma heteromorpha (Harlequin Rasbora)
5 Puntius conchonius (Rosy Barb)
3 Chromobotia macracanthus (Clown Loach)
3 Otocinclus (Oto Cat)

When are you getting your 180G to house your clown loaches??

Burt

 

[H3D]

When are you getting your 180G to house your clown loaches??

Burt

Hi Burtess! My clown loaches are close to 2 years old and are almost 6 inches. I currently have a 90 gallon aquarium that they will be moved in to shortly. When they reach 9 inches in length I will move them to a 180 gallon and one day I hope to house them in a 400+ gallon.

 

[cohazard]

....so what would you say is proper care that will help them grow faster? more filtration? more small daily feedings? varying foods?

That's right... also, lots of good hiding spots (they'll all cram into one if they can, and once that space gets too crowded, at least IME, they will begin searching the tank for a more suitable hide away).

Also, lower light levels, and at least 3 or 4 to a group. I think they appreciate high oxygen content too.

I've got 5 in a 180g and they all are very brave (except for the dominant one with the crazy pattern). They live with polys (african) and SA/CA cichlids.

I obviously don't have a "biotope" aquarium, or a "theme" but I don't really care... my fish are growing quickly, don't display agression (well, the bichirs bite each other once in a while, but that's normal, they leave the other fish alone).