Adding clown loaches

[Corruptor]

I've got a 55usg tank with a number of community fish (platies, guppies, neons, one gourami and some harlequins). Also in the tank is one clown loach that I've had for the last 2 years. I started with 3, but the other 2 died a couple of months after we got them. How will the existing loach react to some new brothers & sisters? Will they need to be similar in size (3-1/2"), or can I get away with adding smaller (2" range) fish?

 

[northpaul]

he should love the company and be the dominant fish

 

[Corruptor]

Thanks. That's good, I was worried that there might be some serious hostility / territory issues if I just dropped them in.

 

[LoachLover]

He should really appreciate some new friends. I've seen full grow clown loaches living with clown loaches a few inches long, they don't really seem to mind if they are different sizes.

 

[FrAnK3333]

You should be fine. Why did they die last? Ich? Have ich medicine on the side and try not to lose these ones.

 

[Corruptor]

Actually, I have no idea why they died, but I don't think it was ich. When first introduced into the tank they were all well and good, but they hid most of the time. After about 2 months one of them just vanished. No body, nothing. Just gone. The next one disappeared a few months after that. There are no predatory fish in the tank, the loaches were the largest things in there. I will take your advice though, and get some medicine when I pick the new ones up.

 

[LoachLover]

Hmmm, sometimes loaches just vanish. Either they are STILL hiding (unlikely) or they just died (duh). That's weird

 

[FrAnK3333]

I would, we all get ich some time. That sucks that the clowns just vanished. My first clown would hide when there was nothing in the tank. Weird.

 

[LoachLover]

I would, we all get ich some time. That sucks that the clowns just vanished. My first clown would hide when there was nothing in the tank. Weird.

I have that happen with skunk loaches.

 

[oscar_lover2005]

a full grown clown loach will not fit in a 55g.

 

[Corruptor]

a full grown clown loach will not fit in a 55g.

Yeah, I know. If they get too big for the tank, I'll have to sell them off. I've got a couple of quality fish stores (ie: not petsmart, walmart, etc.) that will sell them or direct me to someone that would want them. Or, maybe I'll just have to move up to a 125 gallon tank

 

[oscar_lover2005]

wouldnt it be sad for you to give them up . do your best to get that 125g tank.

 

[FrAnK3333]

Sorry but I disagree. A full growen clown loach wouldnt fit in a 55, but you know how long it takes to get there? Years depending on the size its at now. A 75 gallon can hold a fully growen clown. They can get to 12 inches, but its rare that they do in a aquarium.

 

[oscar_lover2005]

disagree all you want but if a clown loach gets proper care diet anviorment water quality it in 5years it will reach its full size. not even in a 75g it will fit. trust me on this one i had one in a 75g it out grew it and i had to put him in my 300g pond this year.

 

[FrAnK3333]

Wheres loachlover! Clown loaches are knowen to to grow slowly. Most reaching 8 inches. If you have one bigger post a picture.