37 Gallons = Okay For Clown Loach?

[crazychris]

I ahve one loach in my 24 gallon and its just fine. they are very slow growers so dont trust the size tags at Petsmart or Petco. It will be just fine in a 37 gallon.

I have 2 big Clowns in my 22 uk gallon (36"x15"x12") and they're fine except the slightly larger one bullies the one that's fractionally smaller. Also have 4 big Pakistanis in there.

 

[Wills]

At risk of getting this post deleted however in this case I feel it relevant not only for the original poster but also the other two members that have become involved. Meet loaches.com the definitive guide on loaches and surprise surprise they have the best clown loach profile on the net I would advise Chris and Peter to look at this have a look at Marge and see how you feel about your fish being in adequate housing

http/www.loaches.com/species-index/clown-loach-chromobotia-macracanthus


To Crazychris - When you say fine, I imagine you mean they are quite active and healthy. So I would say they are living however its not the same as them thriving for them to thrive they need the groups and the big tanks and a fine substrate.

To anyone - Ive said it again recently on a different thread but it needs saying here as well. There are guides on the internet on how to keep just about every species in the hobby there are slight differences between guide to guide and forum to forum but they all cross over and this is what should be taken as a rule on how to keep these fish. Just because you have put some fish in water and they are doing fine does not mean they are happy and at the end of the day as fish keepers its your responsibility to give the fish the home they need as with any animal. Im not a hippy preaching about animal rights but it is something we have to do as fish keepers.

When Im giving advice to new fish keepers, I am basically reciting information I have been given when I started the hobby plus my own experience and those of others that keep fish in what is considered a responsible manor. I dont really think that there is any room for discussion here on how these kind of fish need to be kept as I hope the above source proves just what they need and how big they get.

In the hobby today there is no excuse to ignore the rules laid out especially when it comes to meeting minimum tank needs. In the hobby now there are so many alternatives to big fish for small tanks if you want a loach in your tank and you have seen a clown loach but dont have the big tank they need get yoyo loaches if you still dont have a big enough tank for a 6 inch loach get zebra loaches then if your tank cant handle those you can get smaller still like the rosy loach which gets to about half an inch. Its the same with plecs there is 0 need for people to buy common plecs anymore with the availability of small plecs like bulldogs and bristlenoses its just ignorant to get any other type of plec.

Sorry to rant again but this section is getting out of hand with bad advice.

Wills

 

[crazychris]

To Crazychris - When you say fine, I imagine you mean they are quite active and healthy. So I would say they are living however its not the same as them thriving for them to thrive they need the groups and the big tanks and a fine substrate.




Wills

Well apart from one picking on the other and sometimes scratching his black stripes they're very healthy and seem happy although now stuck at 7" and 6" and not growing any more.
Of course I know a bigger tank than 3ft and a larger group is far better but it's not absolutely essential imo. I love my two clowns but can't have a bigger tank due to space so should I just take them to the lfs? He'll sell them to anyone regardless of tank size anyway so ironically they could end up in a 2ft tank!!!

 

[Wills]

A 7 inch and 6 inch fish in a 3 foot tank should tell you tons about how much they need. Fair doos if the LFS will move them onto anyone that will buy them then they probs have a better chance with you. But in the same token you should have researched your fish before you bought them so Im not going to pretend its all okay as their welfare is now your responsibility. I appreciate you cant get a bigger tank I am in a similar situation with my fish though I cant increase length of tank I can increase height and depth and am on the look out for a 4x2x2 to replace my 4x15x18 would you be able to do the same with your 3 foot tank and try to get a 3x2x2? Im not going to tell you to get rid of your fish but if you can find a better home for them with a forum member near you surly that is the best situation for them. The Pakistani loaches are perhaps an issue as well but arguably okay but personally I wouldnt feel good about them in there. If you wanted to do a loach tank when setting up it would have been better for you to do a group of zebra loaches with a group of dwarf chain loaches in that kind of tank.

Wills

 

[arobinson1984]

Well apart from one picking on the other and sometimes scratching his black stripes they're very healthy and seem happy although now stuck at 7" and 6" and not growing any more.

I'm not surprised they are stuck at 6-7" when kept in a 3ft tank! Have a read up on fish growth stunting and the problems it can cause. not to mention the distress caused to the fish.

Personally, if I was in your situation I'd try find a forum member with an adequate sized tank to give them a good happy life, I understand that you dont want to take them to your lfs as they may sell them to somebody with an even more inadequate tank but the classified section of this forum is a good way of rehoming fish and getting proof from the perspective owner that they have the correct conditions required.


Andy

 

[meguro]

has anyone seen these before i was looking at getting some they look awsome


Common name: Vietnamese Hovering Zebra Loach.

Species: Yunnanilus cruciatus.

Potential size: 4cm.

Yunnanilus cruciatus.

cruciatus

but thats one of the unforgivable curses!

 

[jacko32]

has anyone seen these before i was looking at getting some they look awsome


Common name: Vietnamese Hovering Zebra Loach.

Species: Yunnanilus cruciatus.

Potential size: 4cm.

Yunnanilus cruciatus.

cruciatus

but thats one of the unforgivable curses!

lol i just got the info from here

http/shop.sweetknowleaquatics.co.uk/epages/246260.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/246260/Products/%22vietnamese%20hovering%20zebra%20loach%22/SubProducts/%22Vietnamese%20Hovering%20Zebra%20Loach%22

 

[Larkspur]

For your stocking Larkspur you could consider

- 1 female betta
- 4 guppies (2m 2f)
- 2 platy (1m 1f)
- 1 albino BN
- 6 peppered cory - like the loaches cories need to be in groups usually bigger than loaches, if it were me I would stick to 12 of your peppered but if you would rather have two groups of 6 you will still be able to have an other 6 but stick to the smaller species like panda and avoid things like your brochis etc.
- 5 chain loaches

For now I would leave it at that, if your taking on some fry and you have both genders of livebearers you will quickly gather numbers in your guppies and platies it also allows you to get your impulse guppies but not too many Only thing perhaps to consider once the tank has matured further is maybe more female bettas to make a sorority but that might push your stocking a little.

Thanks! My tank will be heavily planted when complete, have driftwood, and I plan on having a sand substrate so I think everyone should be happy! I think I will get 4 more peppered cories and then look for a group of 6 pandas. I want to have at least 2 kinds of cory on the bottom that are very distinct from each other. I'm so excited so my bf needs to finish his stand for his 55 so I can get the 37 prepped for some fish.

I thought about having a couple more female bettas, but not 100% sure. Strawberry has an attitude though she has calmed down now. She was stressed with goldfish (finally rehomed the goldfish though thank goodness!) and she would attack the largest goldfish and hang on to its dorsal fin and mind you the goldie was 3-4 times her size! She has gotten better though. I think it was just the goldies stressing her. She swims with the platy's and guppies fine though about a week ago she must have nipped my lyretail males tail. No aggression since the goldies left though.


Meguro, LOL! Cruciatus curse! I'm surprised I didn't catch that. I'm a Harry Potter fan myself. XD

 

[Larkspur]

Went to my LFS this morning and got exciting news! (Sort of)

Chatted with the store owner a while about my ideas and I'm definitely getting the dwarf chain loaches! He's special ordering some now only because the supply is limited and he said that due to them mostly being wild caught, they are only available about this time of year. He is ordering about 20 of them and I'll be purchasing 5.

Also getting some Bandit cories rather than the panda. They're close in appearance. He mentioned that pandas are a bit more sensitive so I'm getting Bandits instead. He had 3 bandits in store, but was not selling them. He said he ordered 12 and half arrived dead and 3 more died shortly after. He thinks the shipping must have been bad, but just in case he is holding them a week and observing before selling the remaining 3. If they are doing good in a week I'll buy the 3 and will get 3 more once the tank is up and running. Also will get more of the peppereds. He told me how to sex them and I'm pretty confident I have 2 males since they have a pretty tall dorsal fin. So he will help me pick out some females at a later date.

So yah! Getting some loaches after all. Maybe not clowns, but excited about the chains!!

Now to pressure my boyfriend about getting his 55 gallon stand sanded the rest of the way so he can do the painting. Then he can put up the 55 and transfer those devilish cichlids out of the 37.

Oh, and I bought 2 more guppies so I have six. A snakeskin male and a rainbow female. Couldn't leave without them. This was what I meant by spontaneous purchases. XD