Large Clown Loaches -- New Home?

[ShinySideUp]

I am currently watching three of my clown loaches grow by the month. They are happy chappies and are always there for food and I think within the next few weeks I will have them eating from my hands. However the biggest is five inches long and my tank is a 240 litre, four footer and I'm becoming concerned about housing for them. I could probably get a five foot tank in the house but I can see that that would not be a long-term (or even medium-term) solution. I would have to have my dog die (he sleeps next to the fish tank) to be able to fit a 6 x 2 foot tank and while he is very old I'm not going to trade him for a home for my fish!

So what do I do?

Yes, I know I should never have bought them in the first place, blahdy, blah, blah. But I did, many years ago, when I was less knowledgeable and now I have to do the best for them.

Local fish shops are only going to provide me with an out-of-sight-out-of-mind solution before they sell them to some mis-guided novice with a tank even smaller than mine.

I'm hoping that growth rate will slow now and give me some breathing space. How likely is this? If they stayed at their present size for a year or so I can probably do something about it after that (I love my dog though but everything comes to an end ).

PS The other three are from a different batch but roughly the same age.They are only two to three inches long and I think they will get no bigger as they may have been from stunted stock.

 

[Tizer]

is it that hard to move the dogs bed elsewhere?

 

[tribalbrit]

They'll be fine for a year or so. IMO. better off in your tank than someone that knows nothing about their needs.

 

[Nettley]

I would love them.. but you live so fare

 

[ShinySideUp]

is it that hard to move the dogs bed elsewhere?

I know, seems obvious doesn't it. However my house isn't the biggest in the world and my dog is very set in his ways; we tried moving his bed once and he fretted for days. He's 14 years old and I haven't the heart to push the point.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

How about as big a tank as will fit on the planned wall that has a cabinet big enough to house the dog basket inside it?

 

[ShinySideUp]

How about as big a tank as will fit on the planned wall that has a cabinet big enough to house the dog basket inside it?

Lol. That conjured up the picture of me showing friends the fish tank "Here is the tank and fish, in this cupboard is the filter and electrics, over here in this cupbord is the dog and in the middle cupboard you can see our herd of wildebeest". Ok, got carried away with the gnu reference.

 

[bikerfish]

Hi I love clowns as well , have you heard of fishrescue@welfare if you sign up to there site they will come and take them to a new home which will be checked on to make sure it is ok , or a member will rehome them permantley or if you want to let me have your details as I am a member and I will pass on to correct area
cheers cathy

 

[Dazzler666]

ShinySideUp where abouts in the country are you?! Im looking at getting clown liaches in my 5x2x2ft tank so if feasable i may be able to assist .