Introduction Of Clown Loaches

[jsl]

My LFS person has advised that I should wait 3 months before considering introduction of clown loaches to my aquarium. He did say I could introduce other fish before hand (but I forget what ones).

Okay, so I understand and realise that I should stock up slowly but why wait for 3 months for the clown loaches?

Is there a preference to which fish to introduce and when?

I thought that since I want to add about 5 clown loaches that they'd be the next in, followed by a cat.... (not the furry four legs and a tail type!! ) (There's 5 tetra's in about 120 l tank right now)

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons or litres is the tank.

They need large tanks, plus they are scaless fish so need a mature tank, as clown loaches are prone to whitespot and stress can soon cause this, so no good in a cycling tank, as whitespot can soon kill clown loaches.

Just noticed no way is that tank any good for 5 clown loaches it's only a 27gal, wouldn't keep them in anything less than a 75gal.

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

120 litres is far too small for clowns which grow 12 inches long. a good alternative would be zebra loaches , dario loaches, khuli loaches or chain loaches which stay small and could live their whole life in a tank that size. Check out www.loaches.com for other suitable sized loaches.

Emma

 

[Nim]

You need a minimum 4ft long tank for the clowns and once they grow bigger then 6-7" they will need more room.

They are also very succeptible to Ich and so should only be introduced into a mature aquarium that has been ideally running with fish for 3-4 months. If you are cycling the tank from scratch then I would make it 6 months.

You may want to introduce them earlier but its a risk of killing the fish.

Nim

 

[pieman]

khuli loaches are great fish, not really active during the day but just before i switch the lights off they get hyperactive and start playing with each other