When Can I Get Clown Loaches?

[shivvy_girl]

Hey again, my problem of finrot and whitespot is cleared up nicely, just 2 more treatments to go.

Unfortunately, during the whitespot, my two beloved clownloaches died And they were my favourite fish.

I have a quarantine tank set up just now, been going for over a week, how long before I could put clown loaches in my quarantine tank? Nitrate, nitrate, ammonia all at 0 PH is 7.0.

And how long should I keep new fish in a quarantine tank?

Thanks informative people

 

[Bloo]

When you know you have a tank large enough to accommodate them as adults and keep a group of them. These lovely fish grow large - and though they usually seem to slow down after the 6" mark, you'll really need a tank in the 70 US gallon region in the near future for them to grow and stretch their fins.

If you already have such a tank (or will have in the future), wait a month or so for things to settle and return to normal - once you are very sure the disease is gone

Edit: how did you cycle your quarantine tank ? And how (without fish) do you keep those levels at zero ?

 

[shivvy_girl]

Thanks Bluezoo! My tank is 190litres (Please can you tell me this in US Gallons?-im rubbish at figuring it out ) I dunno how it's all 0 - my dad put these things in 'that helps the tank cycle' or something, I did have baby fish in it-but they died

 

[Bloo]

OK, your tank will be ok for some small ones for a few months, but I'm afaid on a long term basis, that tank is much too small at around 50 US gallons. You will really need something around the 75 gallons mark to give them space to grow and stretch their fins.

If you don't think you'll be upgrading in the foreseeable future, I'd say you should think about some other lovely loaches. I have some gorgeous Botia Kubotai in my Juwel 180 (almost the same size as yours) and they are very beautiful and active to watch them play.

But before you add any more fish, be absolutely sure the ICH has gone

 

[shivvy_girl]

Thanks again! I really love those loaches you said...do they have the same characteristics as the clown loaches? You see, my dad just loved them to bits the way they lay on their side and threw pebbles about
But I really like the ones you showed me, my main aquarium is juwel too, how many of those loaches you showed me can go in?

P.S Sorry I took long to reply, my dad was out in the bird aviary and found two little mice, and shouted for me to go and see them aww

Oh, and how big do those loaches get? I think I might try and get them once the ICH is clear for a month as you said...And hopefully, in about 4 months time, the attick will be all tidied and me and dad are planning to keep tanks up there, and I could get a big one for clown loaches

 

[catxx]

i hope you've got a strong floor in the attic!!

 

[shivvy_girl]

LOL I know cat! I said that to my dad, but he's a joiner so he thinks he can do it...I have no idea what he's gonna do, we'll need a steel floor!

Infact a steel floor is probably even more stupid - but you guys will get used to me saying silly things in good time

 

[IceH2O]

If you have 0 at AM,NI and NA your tank isn't cycled. If you add fish they will suffer as they will be there from the start of the cycle till the end, if they're hardy enough to survive it.

Best thing to do when setting up a QT tank is to have some spare filter media in your original filter that you could move over to the QT tank filter, that will instantly cycle (really shortcut) the tank.