Clown Loaches: Am I Ready?

[David]

I tried posting in the cyprinids and characins forum but wasn't getting manyy responses. I am thinking of getting 3 clown loaches for my newly cycled aquarium. It's a 46 gallon, 36" x 12" x 18", and currently houses a betta and 3 platies. Ammonia 0 nitrite 0.4 and dropping. pH about 7. Am I ready? Any other info on clowns would be appreciated.

 

[Aquascaper]

From what I know about Clown loaches they are quite hardy fish but are very prone to catching Ich. As long as they survive the transfer from LFS to home without getting Ich they will tolerate varying water quality so you should be fine if your nitrites are falling and ammonia stays at 0ppm.
I trust you are aware that they grow big (about 8" - 10" usually) and general opinion is that they should be in groups of 4 or more (I only have 3 however and they are quite happy) so they will take up a lot of room in your 46g

HTH

 

[guppymonkey]

Clown loachs can be more sensitive to water conditions than most fish. With your slightly elevated nitrite reading you could end up with sick or dead loachs. But if you are willing to do water changes every couple days to alleviate the nitrite poisoning then they should do fine. As Aquascaper mentioned they do get kind of big so I would suggest keeping some medium sized fish with them instead of a betta and some platies. They are small and could get harassed and injured by the larger clown loachs.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Urm your tank is the same as mine in dimensions except I work mine to be 25 gallons, I thnk your working in imperial gallons.

 

[David]

Maybe, I don't know. It said 46 gallons at the store. Anyway I just bought two today and they both have ich. Darn. What can I do? Any info on this disease?

 

[yhbae]

32x12x18 is the standard dimension for a 33g tank...

From what I have been told, clown loaches are ok in a 3ft tank for the while, but once they reach certain size, they need to be removed. I am also looking to see if I can add about 3 or 4 into my 3ft tank and keep them there for about a year. By then (of course... ) I will have a larger tank!

 

[David]

That's great but any info on how I can treat the ich?

 

[Moving Shadow]

There is a treatment available at your local LPS. Works nicely. Also try raising the temp for a while.

Make sure you have bottom feeder food for the clowns as you will not have enough algae/stuff at the bottom of the tank for them to eat happily.

Good Luck

 

[David]

Thanks so should I get those sinking tablets?

 

[kevin007]

i feed mine flakes, shrimp pellets and HIKARI SINKING PELLETS!

my clowns only click to hikari sinking pellets =)

 

[David]

ok thx

I can finally stop asking . I hope my little dudes live thru the ich. Is it often fatal?

 

[Tjimbsoj]

ok thx

I can finally stop asking . I hope my little dudes live thru the ich. Is it often fatal?

It's one of the most common fish diseases found in aquaria, fast spreading and regularly fatal.

Anyway enough filling you with optimism, just act fast, be vigorous with it, follow the instructions (if your using medication) and be sure not to overdose.

Best of luck, the success rate is varied

 

[David]

Hmmm. Lateral Line says it's not fatal, and he seems to know a hell of a lot about ich. Look at his description of it in the cyprinids and characins forum. Dunno who to believe now. Damn it's all so confusing.

 

[yhbae]

Lateral Line, I do have a question for you - is ich really not fatal to the fishes once they are infected and show those white spots? If you don't cure them, wouldn't they keep multiply and eventually all fishes will die from them?

Curious mind wanting to know more...

 

[Tjimbsoj]

Hmmm. Lateral Line says it's not fatal, and he seems to know a hell of a lot about ich. Look at his description of it in the cyprinids and characins forum. Dunno who to believe now. Damn it's all so confusing.

Like most diseases, it can be fatal. From my experience and knowledge of ich in the past, it can be treated successfully, but once it has a hold in your tank its hard to budge. It is easily transmitted though, so keep an eye on your other occupants.