Clown Loaches

[timmystood]

Hi

I'm off to do my last stock for my community tank on sunday and want to know if Clown Loaches will mix OK with my head and tail tetras and my Simease Fighting Fish (betta).
My LFS and my experienced said they would but I want to be sure.

Will they?

 

[kat and james]

i dont see why they wouldnt' be suitable, the only drawback may be the size of your tank, clowns grow really big, and do need quite a bit of space! but they are awesome fish! i love them

kat

oops just saw your tank size.. ours are in a 50 gallon tank at the moment, but in the next few months we are moving them to a 170 gal tank!! you tank doesn't sound to be overstocked, so i would say that they would be fine! good luck!!


wait.. ignore that.. i read 54 gallons, not litres!! sorry.. i don't think that will be big enough for clown loaches!! maybe you could get a different type of loach; that doesn't grow as large as clowns!!

sorry!!! )

 

[timmystood]

Yeah but I heard they only grow to their environment so if it's only 54 litres then they don't grow very big and it doesn't bother them.

 

[kat and james]

nope sorry.. that is an old wives tale.. they will continue growing, and you will eventually end up with fish with stunted growth, who will be very unhappy, and this will also shorten thier life span. sorry

 

[timmystood]

I might buy a bigger tank then and use that as my community tank - but they will mix with bettas and tetras?

 

[kat and james]

i don't know anything about bettas, from what i have read they are better off as a solitary fish. however we keep our loaches with tetras, neon, black neon and platinums, and they are fine.. they live at different levels in the tank, and therefore don't bother each other at all!

 

[Ferris]

If its the tank in your sig (54 litre), forget the CL's. CL's grow to around 12 - 14 inches and you would need a tank of around 75 gallons just for 3 (at least).

CL's in a tank that small would not survive for long and would certainly not be happy. The story about fish growing to their environment size is mostly a myth. Your best option for bottom feeders in a tank that size would be the Coryodoras catfish species, which stay nice and small, plenty of choice aswell.

 

[Barry P]

Buy a bigger tank for the clowns and leave the betta on his own in the original tank, they will attack other fish. Also, be aware that clowns are susceptible to ich. My 2 wiped out 17 of my fish with it.

 

[Bloo]

Yeah but I heard they only grow to their environment so if it's only 54 litres then they don't grow very big and it doesn't bother them.

as do little Chinese girls feet (not grow) when they are bound in cloth - thankfully a ghastly tradition that's fast dying out.

By not providing adequate space for your fish, you would be stunting their growth and development and cause internal organ damage.

54 litres of water is only 14 US gallons.

Why don't you add some cories or Kuhli loaches ? They'd be much better suited to your tank