Good Clown Companions?

[stargirly1208]

hello, recently i had my clown loaches housed with some guppies and found that the clowns decided to take a bite out of their tails when they felt they needed a snack... so i got another tank just for my guppies (because i love them ). now i have just my 4 clowns, a female dwarf gourami (she can be housed elsewhere if needed), and 2 bright rasboras. i do have 4 neons that i'm planning on putting with my guppies when the tank is fully matured so i don't lose any of them.... so i have open space as you can see. (i have a 50 gallon by the way)

should i get some semi-aggressive fish? i basically need middle to top dwellers. i don't care too much for barbs, so i'm out of ideas.

is it true that german rams are peaceful even though they're cichlids? maybe i could get some semi-aggressive cichlids?

please help with suggestions!!

 

[Jamesham]

i would try personally german blue rams. they are lovely but still peaceful chiclids. their colours really come out. you might want to look at a rtbs or hatchet fish as well.

hope this helps

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I wouldn't advise any semi agressive fish, peaceful community tanks are much better if the fish you have are peaceful and non-territorial fish (like clown loaches and guppys). Did you actually witness the clown loaches attacking the guppys?
4 Neons is too smaller number, a minimum of 6 is advised, but the more the better (particularly for larger tanks). Same goes for the rasbora's.

 

[thegnu]

i wouldnt keep rams with clownloach. clownloach are such fast eaters of frozen bloodworm, which rams "need" that they will struggle to thrive. JMO

 

[vic]

HMMMMMMM:
Clown loaches can get to 12 inches in an aquarium and regularly get to 8 inches. The moral of the story is that 4 clowns and a small number of dither fish and you tank is fully stocked. (Zebras, rasboras, etc.) If you want to put rams in, go ahead. My clowns and rams get on famously. The feeding thing is a small issue. Take your time feeding so that the rams have a good shot at the food before it gets down to loach land. If you are really concerned feed some floating food for the rams. Also, the loaches would appreciate some cucumber, orange, zucchini, etc.
Vic

 

[Davey Jones]

HMMMMMMM:
Clown loaches can get to 12 inches in an aquarium and regularly get to 8 inches. The moral of the story is that 4 clowns and a small number of dither fish and you tank is fully stocked. (Zebras, rasboras, etc.) If you want to put rams in, go ahead. My clowns and rams get on famously. The feeding thing is a small issue. Take your time feeding so that the rams have a good shot at the food before it gets down to loach land. If you are really concerned feed some floating food for the rams. Also, the loaches would appreciate some cucumber, orange, zucchini, etc.
Vic

Orange? Do clown's like orange, this is the first time i've heard of this,how do you feed them it, do you do anything to it before you put into the tank?

 

[stargirly1208]

I wouldn't advise any semi agressive fish, peaceful community tanks are much better if the fish you have are peaceful and non-territorial fish (like clown loaches and guppys). Did you actually witness the clown loaches attacking the guppys?
4 Neons is too smaller number, a minimum of 6 is advised, but the more the better (particularly for larger tanks). Same goes for the rasbora's.

yeah i did see them attacking the guppies, very sad. i think as they got bigger, they got hungrier and more aggressive. well i had 6 neons... yeah i lost 2, they were old tho so it's expected. i've been thinking about the german ram, or the gold ram since they're peaceful, but i'm not sure yet.

HMMMMMMM:
Clown loaches can get to 12 inches in an aquarium and regularly get to 8 inches. The moral of the story is that 4 clowns and a small number of dither fish and you tank is fully stocked. (Zebras, rasboras, etc.) If you want to put rams in, go ahead. My clowns and rams get on famously. The feeding thing is a small issue. Take your time feeding so that the rams have a good shot at the food before it gets down to loach land. If you are really concerned feed some floating food for the rams. Also, the loaches would appreciate some cucumber, orange, zucchini, etc.
Vic

thanks for the advice, but my clowns like to come up to the top and eat the flakes.. and THEN eat their bottom feeder food, they're total pigs i swear! i've never witnessed a clown loach reach 12 inches tho.

HMMMMMMM:
Clown loaches can get to 12 inches in an aquarium and regularly get to 8 inches. The moral of the story is that 4 clowns and a small number of dither fish and you tank is fully stocked. (Zebras, rasboras, etc.) If you want to put rams in, go ahead. My clowns and rams get on famously. The feeding thing is a small issue. Take your time feeding so that the rams have a good shot at the food before it gets down to loach land. If you are really concerned feed some floating food for the rams. Also, the loaches would appreciate some cucumber, orange, zucchini, etc.
Vic

Orange? Do clown's like orange, this is the first time i've heard of this,how do you feed them it, do you do anything to it before you put into the tank?

i've fed mine oranges once, they picked at it, they love cucumbers more tho. i use a veggie clip that sticks to the side of the tank for them to munch. but hey my clowns will eat just about anything you put in there.