Can I Have Clown Loaches?

[SouthernCross]

Hi all,

After running a search there seems to be no general consensus on minimum tank size for clowns. There was a thread there where some people were saying the 'YOU MUST HAVE A 6 FOOT TANK' for clowns people were overkill and while a 'decent size' tank was obviously key, good maintenance is just as if not more important.

I have recently upgraded from a standard 3 foot to a 4 x 2 x 2 (450 litres, or around 100 UK gallon I believe) and I am running two Fluval 305s on it. So quite a sizeable tank - but is it enough? I've read too many threads and am confused! I have always liked clowns but knew a narrow 3 foot was never enough for them. Is my new tank suitable?

I would want to have four if I got them. Other tankmates are angels, tetras, gourami, guppies, rams, cories and some kuhlis.

Cheers.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Hi all,

After running a search there seems to be no general consensus on minimum tank size for clowns. There was a thread there where some people were saying the 'YOU MUST HAVE A 6 FOOT TANK' for clowns people were overkill and while a 'decent size' tank was obviously key, good maintenance is just as if not more important.

I have recently upgraded from a standard 3 foot to a 4 x 2 x 2 (450 litres, or around 100 UK gallon I believe) and I am running two Fluval 305s on it. So quite a sizeable tank - but is it enough? I've read too many threads and am confused! I have always liked clowns but knew a narrow 3 foot was never enough for them. Is my new tank suitable?

I would want to have four if I got them. Other tankmates are angels, tetras, gourami, guppies, rams, cories and some kuhlis.

Cheers.

It's adequate for small clown loaches but the thing is, clown loaches can get up to 12+ inches. That is why a 6 footer is recommended for adults.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Hi all,

After running a search there seems to be no general consensus on minimum tank size for clowns. There was a thread there where some people were saying the 'YOU MUST HAVE A 6 FOOT TANK' for clowns people were overkill and while a 'decent size' tank was obviously key, good maintenance is just as if not more important.

I have recently upgraded from a standard 3 foot to a 4 x 2 x 2 (450 litres, or around 100 UK gallon I believe) and I am running two Fluval 305s on it. So quite a sizeable tank - but is it enough? I've read too many threads and am confused! I have always liked clowns but knew a narrow 3 foot was never enough for them. Is my new tank suitable?

I would want to have four if I got them. Other tankmates are angels, tetras, gourami, guppies, rams, cories and some kuhlis.

Cheers.

Don't be intimidated by the Clown-Loach Police. Although I have six of varying sizes in a four foot tank, I am personally of the opinion that three is a minimum number and I have been keeping Clown's for many years. My first batch I had for a long time but had to give away when I moved house. I kept in touch with the new owner and they were all at least 17 years old when they died. My present ones live in a 240 litre tank with high water flow in which they can play and seem perfectly happy. If you are concerned then buy Zebra Loaches instead, just as much fun but don't grow as big.

 

[LongS]

There are lots of similar loaches that would be suitable but not outgrow your tank. Clown loaches would be ok for a good while but do grow quite large. Have you checked out the different Botia species? Do a search on Botia Striata, Botia Histrionica, Botia Kubotai or even Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki if you can find any.

These might suit you a little better simply because they don't get as large and will not outgrow your setup.

 

[PERCY]

Your tank is fine for clown loaches. The chance of your clowns growing 12+ inches is between slim and none. The biggest they will get is around 5-6 inches. Yes there are exceptions and they can grow bigger but it's rare. They way people go on about it on this site is incredible, its more like an anti aquatics forum. No tank will ever be big enough for any fish regardless of size. FACT

 

[onidrase]

I've always thought of the 4x2 foot print as minimum tank size. Besides, they're better off in your tank than they are being sold off to random people with 10-20 galloners with snail problems.

they do get well into the 12 inches, sometimes larger, but it takes them forever to get there, and since people always keep them in god awful conditions, they typically don't make it that far.

I've found people to be quite reasonable about tank sizes on this site. the fact of the matter is, if your tank can't hold big fish, don't get big fish. Clown loaches are pretty big fish.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

The biggest they will get is around 5-6 inches.

I found this quite humorous because most well taken care of adult clowns that are 10+ years are much bigger than this. In fact, there are quite a few people on the forum who own clown loaches that are considerably bigger than what you state here. Most clown loaches that don't get bigger than 5-6 inches after a number of years are probably that small due to stunting. Just saying

 

[Tizer]

yeah, dont mess with the Clown police! *ne naw ne naw!*

 

[PERCY]

The biggest they will get is around 5-6 inches.

I found this quite humorous because most well taken care of adult clowns that are 10+ years are much bigger than this. In fact, there are quite a few people on the forum who own clown loaches that are considerably bigger than what you state here. Most clown loaches that don't get bigger than 5-6 inches after a number of years are probably that small due to stunting. Just saying

Clearly you have an over active sense of humour. As I said the ones that reach those sizes are rare. If you think they are to big for the average tank do you really think it is fair to keep a neon tetra in any size tank when they should really be out in in a wide open lake/river or whatever. If what is said on here is anything to go by keeping fish should be banned. As I said before no tank will ever be big enough for any fish. Regardless of size.

I intend on buying clown loaches for my 5 foot when cycled. If they were to grow to 12+ inches in 10 years time then I'll look at my options. Who knows what happens in that time, hell I may even be dead myself

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Bare in mind that not only will the Clown Loaches get large and do better in 10+ groups, they are a species that originates from rivers with very strong currents. Giving these loaches the conditions they deserve (10-20x true water turnover) will almost certainly conflict with conditions needed for your Guppies; Angelfish; Rams; Gourami; Kuhli Loaches; possibly the Corydoras; possibly the tetras.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Bare in mind that not only will the Clown Loaches get large and do better in 10+ groups, they are a species that originates from rivers with very strong currents. Giving these loaches the conditions they deserve (10-20x true water turnover) will almost certainly conflict with conditions needed for your Guppies; Angelfish; Rams; Gourami; Kuhli Loaches; possibly the Corydoras; possibly the tetras.

I have extra water flow in my tank for the clowns but I have been very careful to place the pump such that it leaves large areas of much, much calmer water. The reason I mention this is because I have Corydoras and they really do not like strong currents as they are not powerful swimmers, preferring to grub around in the sand. I believe I have got the balance right and have the visual evidence in that where the current flow is greatest, the sand substrate has formed itself into a wave-shape. The clowns ride up this sand 'dune' and play in the current at the top. The corys avoid this area but you can see where they prefer as there are little marks in the sand where they have been foraging. I'll try to take a picture of the 'sand wave' so you can see what I mean.

One last thing on the clown: I have six of them and although they occasionally get together to form a group there is a definite tendency for the three largest and the three smallest to form groups on their own, often residing in their 'own' parts of the tank. Why this should be I have yet to determine but I suspect it has much to do with food and their relative access to it determined by size.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

As I said before no tank will ever be big enough for any fish. Regardless of size.

I must have an over active sense of humor as this was a little funny to me as well. Surely you don't believe a neon utilizes the whole lake that it lives in. They usually confine themselves to small areas. Just because I caught a fish on one side of a lake, doesnt mean i will find that same fish in the middle

 

[LongS]

I must admit i can understand what percy is saying. When someone posts a suggested stocking like

'i have a four foot tank and i'm planning on 10 cardinals, and 5 angle fish along with a plec' (just a silly example)

and the reply will be something along the lines of

'sorry you can't, angels need at least a 500 gallon blah blah blah you can have a cherry shrimp and a coolie loach but nothing else.'

Its things like this that annoy me. I can totally understand what percy means about anti aquatic or whatever.

Before anyone jumps and says its just advice, i know that, but its the wording sometimes that gets my goat.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I must admit i can understand what percy is saying. When someone posts a suggested stocking like

'i have a four foot tank and i'm planning on 10 cardinals, and 5 angle fish along with a plec' (just a silly example)

and the reply will be something along the lines of

'sorry you can't, angels need at least a 500 gallon blah blah blah you can have a cherry shrimp and a coolie loach but nothing else.'

Its things like this that annoy me. I can totally understand what percy means about anti aquatic or whatever.

Before anyone jumps and says its just advice, i know that, but its the wording sometimes that gets my goat.

LOL that's why I says "recommended" but I understand what you are saying lol

 

[Lestat999]

Your tank is fine for clown loaches. The chance of your clowns growing 12+ inches is between slim and none. The biggest they will get is around 5-6 inches. Yes there are exceptions and they can grow bigger but it's rare. They way people go on about it on this site is incredible, its more like an anti aquatics forum. No tank will ever be big enough for any fish regardless of size. FACT

I must be seeing things then as I could swear that there are a dozen almost 10" clowns in my tank not to mention the fella that's at least 3" bigger than them.

I agree that your tank is fine though, even if only until they get 6" or so & that will take a few years.