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I've just recently started a clown loach tank. I have 6 in a 20 gallon. I was wondering if anyone who has had good success with these guys could give me any tips on how to best care for them.
Thanks

First of all, these guys get quite big. In fact, eight inches is a common size for a clown loach to reach. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but they just won't fit in your tank. If you still want to keep loaches, you'd be better off with something smaller, like kuhli or yoyo loaches. The clown loaches are just too big.

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Yeah I'm aware the tank maybe a little to small. Right now their all only about an inch long but once they get bigger I plan to move them into our 150 gallon community tank.

Cichlid Keeper

All I do with mine is give them plenty of shelter. A good diet of mixed foods, including flake, sinking pellets, frozen blood worm three times a week, vegies & fruit.

In other words a healthy diet.

Keith

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i love CL's, they're my favourite fish. I have 4 in a 50 gal. I wouldn't get too worried about your tank size yet. In my experience, everyone in this forum gets very touchy when it comes to tank size for CL's. Of course you will need to upgrade, but if they are only 1 inch at the moment, then you have at least a couple of months before you need to start thinking about getting a bigger tank.

I find that food is one of the biggest factors in the health of a CL. Just give them plenty, and heaps of variety. The more you feed them, the bigger and healthier they grow - unlike a lot of other fish which seem to just put on weight (however, you'll obviously need to do this in moderation). CL's eat almost anything, however I advise that you start them on blood worms to give them a bit of a kick. Then you can move onto everything else (pellets, flakes, algae, peas and zuccini). Because I never tried mine with peas and zuccini when they were younger, they don't eat it now so remember to provide them with variety from the get go.

Shelters are also a must. I have two mid sized hidey holes on either side of my tank, however, they usually pile into the one as they feel more safe like that. Thick, bushy plants are also great for making the CL's feel at ease.

Light is another issue. Don't let too much into the room you keep your CL's in as they become very timid. I have blinds which are perfect as I can direct the light away from the tank, while still providing some for my plants (which, by the way, should be very hardy and long lasting as the CL's will rip up any loose plants you may have).

finally, it took me a while to just leave the water chem alone, but since i have, my CL's have thrived!

I will need to buy yet another tank in the near future to continue supporting these fantastic fish! Good luck with yours. Let us know of any probs you have as I have had my own fair share. There is a helpful article in the fresh water menu on Fish Profiles.

All kinds of food, live and frozen, and lots and lots of dark places to hide. I have a huge stone I bought from a fish store that has lots of small caves in it. I also have a piece of driftwood that the shopkeeper drilled into to make caves. My small half inch clowns sleep in that. I happen to have a shell which looks like an igloo (I dont know what you would call that shape) and 3 of my clowns sleep in that. It's kinda small for 3 CLs, but they like to squeeze in. Two little houses in the tank for them to sleep in as well.