upside down cats or clown loaches

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sprite42

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Nov 17, 2003
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I have two upside down cats, one about 3 inches long, the other is about 2 inches long in an overcrowded tank. Tank is a 30 gallon. I also have two clown loaches, both about 2-3 inches in this same tank. My question is: Which pair would be better moved to a second 30 gallon tank w/9 tiger barbs (about 2 inches); 1 skunk loach; and one red tailed shark? I don't want to get rid of my fish, but I need to even out the tanks a bit.
The first tank has 2 white skirt tetras, 2 black phantom tetras, 2 male dwarf gouramis, 1 zebra danio, 3 pristella tetras, 2 clown loaches, 2 upside down cats, 2 albino corys, 1 julii cory, 3 otocinclus, 2 striped kuhli loaches, 2 black kuhli loaches. Both tanks are cycled. Any suggestions? Thanks for any info.
 
I would say move the clowns in with the tiger barbs. I have heard that clown loaches will even school with the barbs. And since barbs can be a bit hyper an aggresive i think the clonws will be better suited to cope with them then the sometmes quiet and shy synos.
 
Thanks for your reply. The clowns will be alright with the skunk loach and the red tailed shark? I was wondering if they might be too agressive for the clowns. The skunk is about 1 1/2 inches long and the RTS is about 3 1/2 inches long. Thanks!
 
Originally posted by sprite42
Thanks for your reply. The clowns will be alright with the skunk loach and the red tailed shark? I was wondering if they might be too agressive for the clowns. The skunk is about 1 1/2 inches long and the RTS is about 3 1/2 inches long. Thanks!
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I have clown loaches in with very aggressive cichlids. The Clowns seem to hold their own quite well.


Originally posted by valerie
I would say move the clowns in with the tiger barbs. I have heard that clown loaches will even school with the barbs. And since barbs can be a bit hyper an aggresive i think the clonws will be better suited to cope with them then the sometmes quiet and shy synos.
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The Clown Loaches love to school with Tiger Barbs. The Tiger Barbs actually help keep the Clowns more active and even get them to come to the surface looking for food.

I just snapped this (slightly blurry) picture yesterday of two Clowns schooling with two Tiger Barbs:

2003-12-07C_60-03.jpg
 
IMO the clowns are probably better with your tiger barbs and you might find that moving your upside down cats in with the barbs may not end up in a few good nips.
I had mine in with some tiger barbs for all of about one week. The barbs would annoy the catfish during the day but the catfish would patrol at night and get his own back. Quite funny to watch but it seemed very stressful to the fish in the end.
As for your concern about the other fish you mentioned being "too aggressive for the clowns", I would tend to disagree. They are pretty good at holding their own. Mine regularly oust my biggest plec out of his favourite cave. He tries for hell and high water to get them out but if they don't want to move ... they will be there all day!
Good luck with your decision. Sounds like to have an interesting setup. It must look pretty cool.
 
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