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i got a 20 gallon long 2 weeks ago and have it all set up now. Everything has cycled good. Today I bought a clown loach and stuck 2 of my mollies in with it... i might add a swordtail later.
he is swiming with the fish and loves his tank.. but i am reading all over this board that clown loaches need groups... does this mean groups of themselves or is the mollies enough.. should i buy another clown loach

...your twenty gallon can't even hold a single clown, much less a trio of them.

its like an 1.5" right now.. i heard the grow slow.. i will move him into one of my bigger tanks laters

I know people that have had clown loaches for 8 yrs. and are only a little over 6 in. They should ideally be kept in groups of three or more.

does this mean groups of themselves or is the mollies enough

No, loaches like the company of their own kind meaning at least one or two more.

In regards to your mollies, are they same sex or a M/F pair? If mixed, it's really best to have at least 1M/2F, preferably 3F, with livebearers to keep the stress down on the females.

Do you have any definite plans for final stocking in this tank? You mentioned the possibility of adding a swordtail, which as far as compatability is concerned would be ok, but they do get a bit large (in the 5" range).



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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

no im not sure what the final fish in the tank would be.. which is why i was asking about the clown loaches.. my friend has had his single one for three years.. its in a 30gal with a bunch of danios..

but ive been reading the need groups so i wasnt sure

as far as the mollies go its two females.. they arent pregnant anymore they just had their babies a week ago and havent been with a male... (i heard loaches eat fry)

and the swordtail i just thought about adding because 3 of my swordtails had fry and i wanted to keep one.

but for what goes in there permantly if i have to get another clown loach thats all thats gonna be in there..
but i saw these things i really wanted to get but i have yet to figure out what they are.. they looked like eels, kind of ghost like, and didnt have any fins and they did this wavey thing with their body.

can cichleds go with clown loaches?

I know people that have had clown loaches for 8 yrs. and are only a little over 6 in. They should ideally be kept in groups of three or more.

The owner of my LFS keeps a duo in his display tank---they are about 10".

Yes indeed. You will not be able to keep enough loaches in there for a shoal. That is a fact. If you really have your heart set on a bottom feeder, why not return the loach and add a shoal of cories? They do a great clean-up job, are just brimming with personality, and are hardy. I wouldn't keep your clown loach in there for long, it won't be as happy as it could be.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

ok a new question

when the loaches color gets more vibrant does that mean anything? because when i bought the clown loach it was a dull orange. and now it if very very bright orange.. really pretty... he also grew a lil bit.

I added two electric cichleds in there with them and he swims with them and plays with them... but in the day time when he sleeps he stays in his cave and kicks them out if they come try and wake him up...

Yes, the added color means that the loach is happier. It seems like what it's doing with the cichlids is just natural clown loach behavior. Again though, I must stress that you don't have enough room for the loach in the twenty gallon.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

i am on the hunt for a cheaper 90 gal right now.. i wanna use the 20 for my livebearers