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Hey guys... about 7 months ago we got 3 clown loaches.

At the store, there were 2 that were bright colored, and the rest were paler. We got the 2 colored ones, and 1 paler one. (The people at the store said they were male and female.. but i dont know if that is true or not)

Anyways, the 2 colored ones have grown, and it is way noticible. The other clown has not grown at all. It is always the first one to eat and everything, but it just doesn't grow. I would assume that being almost a year, they would show some sign of growing, because i know they are slow growers.

Is the one I got just not going to grow? (I have read somewhere where someone got 35 clown loaches, some grow, and some didnt.. which he took back to the store) Will I end up with a 5 year old 1.5" clown loach?

Lets say that it doesnt acually grow, could I put it in a 10 gallon tank? I mean, if there is something wrong with it that it wolnt grow, im not being "mean" to it, and stunting it, right?

it could have internal parasites

At one of my LFS - they have a 50 year old Clown loach that is only 6 inches! And then a few younger ones that are over a foot ... (and these guys are in a 1000 gallon aquarium and have been in such for most of their lives)
So I guess some could just not grow ...

50 years old?!?!??!?

Wow.. I thought their lifespan was only 15 years, and ours are 14 (the big guys)

Ceridwen, someone is over exagerating on the age of that Clown Loach. Some do grow slower and less than others, I have some that have grown and the other one just hasnt but is still as fat and as actve as the others. Just one of those Clown Loach things I presume

I have had four now for 2 years. They all started out at virtually the same 3cm. Now, one has grown to around 11cm and another to around 8cm. The other two have grown at a slower rate and are both around 6cm. They are all very full-bodied and their colours vary in their intensity, depending on their mood. I wouldn't worry about it.

No, I don't think so. It's a family run business and they have had the loaches for 50 years - no lie. They do extremely well with all of their fishes - huge cats, arowanas (4 footer!! ) gouramis (Giant monsters!) I will have to see if I can take pictures the next time I go in. I also had talked to the owner about the age of the loaches, because 50 did seem quiet old/exaggerated - and he swore to me they were his fathers and have been in the family since. (Think of those koi that are passed down from generation to generation!)

Ok Ceridwen, I believe that it is old and only 6 inches but the 50yrs old bit I doubt, if it was 25 then maybe yes

If you want to grow clown loach rapidly you give them four or five times small meals a day of diffirent varities .I have nine clown loach in 150g tank & they grow rapidly & i give them four times a day .i give them beef heart with fine choped & spanish leaf choped &mix with beef heart& also give flake &blood worms.& other thing is if you give them beef heart please change 25% of water after three days.
Good luck