Clown Loaches As A Beginner -- No, No, No!

[ShinySideUp]

Recently I have had the misfortune to read several threads where the owner of a tank has 'one clown loach' in a tank 'that I know is too small for this fish' and is struggling to find a home for it.
 
Now I'm not blaming the authors of these posts, indeed I am pleased that they realise the error of their ways and are trying to do something about it. I also fell for the 'they only grow to the size of the tank' fallacy but I was fortunate in that I was able to upgrade my tank twice and now own a six foot 640 litre aquarium with the original three plus another four in it and all are thriving.
 
I went to a LFS to ask about some unrelated topic and happened to notice they had no Clowns there and asked if they would be getting any; the reply surprised me. They said no, they were 'Clown Loach Nazis' and would not stock them as they were unsuitable for most home aquariums. Now I'm not quite that bad (I would be a hypocrit if I were) but they have a point.
 
So please, please, if you are looking to stock a new and not-so-big tank, do not even consider Clown Loaches. Even thought they look so small and cute in the fish shops, they will grow big, typically 10 to 12 inches in captivity but can grow much larger and they live for years and years and are totally unsuitable for the smaller tank.
 
I would like to bump this thread on occasions in the hope that I can save some poor Clown from a fate worse than death and the unknowing owner some of heartache.

 

[Antinerf]

Haha don't worry, we'll bump it all the way!

 

[ShinySideUp]

I can bump it by pointing out the typo's I made in the first post that I can no longer edit out.

 

[Antinerf]

On the bright side, it can only add to your forum reputation (for your profile).

So I post random stuff like:
"Wow good to know"

And then you post an edit so it counts as a different post, rinse and repeat

That would get boring on my part though lol.

 

[TallTree01]

I agree, fish that commonly grow more than about 6-8 inches should not be so easy to get. The LFS of the world should have fish like that on preorder only so they don't get people impulse buying unsuitable fish for their usually small tanks.

 

[DrRob]

I can bump it by pointing out the typo's I made in the first post that I can no longer edit out.

 
Want me to fix it for you? Or would you like us to do that later to bump the thread?
 
You could, of course, write a post about fish to not take on as a beginner in general and we could probably pin that.

 

[Ch4rlie]

You could, of course, write a post about fish to not take on as a beginner in general and we could probably pin that.
 

 
Not a bad idea. Kinda of a basic "Do & Don't" for general fish species for beginers.....i.e clown loaches and bala sharks etc

 

[Byron]

There was an article, I think in PFK, a year or two back, about a movement aimed at somehow making certain species of fish unavailable generally, and only by specific ordering.  I believe laws were being suggested, and this was centred in the UK.  Haven't heard if this got off the ground or not, but it is not at all a bad idea.
 
It is unfortunate that many today do not see fish in the same light as other animals where detrimental and harmful care would outrage them.  Making a fish suffer is no different than allowing a dog or cat or bird to suffer through inappropriate or inadequate captive care.  Just because one can't hear the fish "crying out" doesn't mean it is not in trouble mentally if not physically.
 
Part of the problem is the lack of knowledge in those who carry and sell fish.  And, the failure on the part of the aquarist to thoroughly research a species before acquiring it so they know what is required long-term.  I saw a tank of playful 2-inch loach-like fish in a local store and it was a species unknown to me.  I asked the employee about them, and she said they remained small and were peaceful.  I went home and researched--I learned some time back to never acquire any fish without knowing all about it--and was glad I hadn't listened to her; the species (can't remember which now) got 5-6 inches, needed a group, and was territorial meaning an even larger space.
 
Byron.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I suppose the trouble is where do you draw the line? Clown Loaches because they get too big? Angel fish because they get aggressive? Pimolodius Pictus because they can be predatory? Pirhanas because they bite? Penguins because they don't smell too good? (OK, the last one is a joke althoug in truth, they really don't smell very nice).
 
I'm afraid I don't have the experience or knowledge to create a list of unsuitable fish for the home aquarium, I only know Clown loaches.

 

[sawickib]

OOOooo, anyone mind if i make the thread? Im a bit bored haha, id probably put the fish in categories, such as aggression, size and social-ness...

 

[DrRob]

I suppose the trouble is where do you draw the line? Clown Loaches because they get too big? Angel fish because they get aggressive? Pimolodius Pictus because they can be predatory? Pirhanas because they bite? Penguins because they don't smell too good? (OK, the last one is a joke althoug in truth, they really don't smell very nice).
 
I'm afraid I don't have the experience or knowledge to create a list of unsuitable fish for the home aquarium, I only know Clown loaches.

 
Then there's always this option.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/437218-what-fish-would-you-never-recommend-to-a-beginner/

 

[Akasha72]

I'm afraid I'm guilty as charged ... not with clown loaches but with my Siamese Algae Eaters. In fairness I did do my research first. I knew they would get to around 10cm and I knew they could live for up to 10 years ... and all well in advance of buying 3.
 
What I wasn't prepared for was not only would they get to 10cm in length but what they would be in girth ... no-one told me they'd be fat, greedy fish lol. I now have 3 monster fish far larger than I expected who are just bottomless pits when it comes to food. My four foot tank is probably right on the cusp of the minimum they need ... if I could give them a larger tank I would but I can't and I don't want a tank larger than 4ft in a small flat! The only saving grace is that I read they get very lazy once fully grown so at some point they're gonna stop zooming around fighting over food .... or at least I live in hope. Perhaps I need to add them to the list 

 

[ShinySideUp]

I'm not sure Akasha. I have one SAE who is about ten years old (I bought two but one died quite quickly) and he/she is about 15cms long and, as you say, quite rotund. He/she (we'll call him he) is not hugely active and is quite happy to mooch around at one end of the tank waiting for the Clown Loaches to get out of bed whereupon he pretends to be one of them. Although my tank is quite large, I'm fairly sure he would not be particularly stressed out in a smaller tank as he doesn't use the whole of this one by any means