IS this compatability ok?

[nshockeyplaya]

hey guys do you think that bala sharks, clown loaches, and an oscar will get along ok?

 

[Dwarfs]

Yes, until the oscar outgrows the clowns and eats them. You would have to have some big clown loaches to start with, I'd say 7"

 

[nshockeyplaya]

What about if i got like 4-5" clown loaches and a 1" oscar?

 

[Teelie]

Those will be expensive, probably $25-30 each at that size. Adult clowns aren't cheap.

 

[nshockeyplaya]

I wont mind paying that much.

Ive had an Oscar before and from what ive read before and from personal experience it seems that theyll only eat a fish that is an easy fit into their mouth (which (unless a clown loach is really small) wouldnt happen) and if theyre not used to eating live fish it is probably less likely (if well fed) for them to try and eat a decent size fish.

 

[Teelie]

One upside to Clowns is they have "cheek spines" which make them undesierable to eat to most fish. It also causes problems when netting them sometimes. I just remembered that.

 

[nshockeyplaya]

I think the only time i really have to be worries is when the oscar grows to about a foot in length.


How awesome would it be if clown loaches grew at the same rate as oscars

 

[sylvia]

Yeah... then people wouldn't keep them in 20 gallon tanks because 'they grow very slowly' I know that's kind of off-topic but I hate it when people do that... it's just so unfair for the fish as most of the time they never do upgrade the tank. Instead, they get rid of the fish when it starts getting bigger (and when it's less likely to find a new home).

 

[Teelie]

It's also unfair to presume people won't upgrade their tanks either.

 

[Yenko]

It's also unfair to presume people won't upgrade their tanks either.

True, I was one of the people that puts clown loaches in a small tank because they grow slowly, and I upgraded. It just isn't set up yet, but it's sitting downstairs as we speak...

 

[nshockeyplaya]

Yea, well my clowns will have plenty of space in my 125g

 

[Blue Lobster]

balas need to be in groups of 6 or more to be truely happy, or alone. If you only get two there will be a dominance issue.
Oh and balas when raised with care can hit 12-14 inches in a 125 gallon.

Great fish to keep though, lively, active and hardy.

 

[sylvia]

I didn't presume people don't upgrade. I only said that's the case MOST of the time.

 

[Teelie]

Sorry, just a bit defensive about it seeing as it's what I am doing. I did the same with an albino channel cat before only instead of a larger tank, he went into a pond.

 

[nshockeyplaya]

Well im getting 3 of them which in my opinion they get along fine.