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I will have to disagree with the aforementioned minimum tank size. Would you honestly keep at least three 8+ inch fish in a 55 gallon tank? I sure wouldn't, especially since three clown loaches is a minimum number for them to be happy. I think that 75 gallons is much more suitable, especially since a couple more clowns would fit in that size tank. Three of these loaches are good, but five or six are even better.

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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."

PS: I have found that my loaches began to thrive when I bumped the water temp to 79ish. Gradually, of course.

I think 3 clown loaches in a 55 is a bit too much. I have 3 in a 72 right now, and while I would love to have more, I just think that is pushing the envelope. I have once heard that clown loaches grow about an inch a year. Well, I am hear to tell ya, they grow a bit faster than that!

As for a setup, I have combined my clowns with panda corys, rubber plecos, angelfish and harlequin rasboras. I have many rocks and caves for hidehouts. They also enjoy burrowing into holes in my bayou driftwood.

Good luck!!

I have 8 in a 125 uk gallon (150 us)ranging from 3-9 inches all are active and interact well with other tankmates as well.They are a delight to watch in this size of group.

Gibson SG you know you want one!!

Beast

I think 3 in a 120g would be great, and you could probably get a couple more in, maybe 5/6 all together. Oooh, happy happy clown dances....

its not possible to replicate any aquatic life habitat unless u have a pond or lake in your possesion and the fact that you cant feed or test the water or other maintinence cant be done to help them survive. putting one clown loach in a 265usg wouldnt be sufficent to what the wild loaches are exposed to. any fish has the possibilities of reaching its max size in the wild is because they have thausands or millions even billions of gallons to swim in. its common sense knowing the fish arent capable of getting to there potential size in any home aquarium.

ill just put 3 loaches in a 120usg and hope for the best with that space.

thanks a million for the replies

Ya, I'de say get something in the 75 gal range at least, if not 100. Clown loach get to 8 inches in captivity commonly, but I'm betting that's because they're kept in a small tank, and die off before reaching full length. In the wild, it's common to find mature clown loach up to 12 inches long. I could be wrong, perhaps it's some other variable causing them to stay shorter, but that's my guess.

Mine is almost 9" and it has no problem what-so-ever of being in the 55g.

It seems when clowns get older, they are less passive, and only come ut of hiding when they are being fed.

I think you might have just contradicted yourself a bit there, IME clowns get more active and confident with age, not the opposite. If anything, I'd guess yours is becoming more reclusive because of the lack of space, rather than the age......

I agree with sirbooks, that a 55g is too small for clowns, especially if there are more than 3 (which would be better).

Yes, i would keep 3 8+ inch clown loaches in a 55 gallon.

Mine is almost 9" and it has no problem what-so-ever of being in the 55g.

It seems when clowns get older, they are less passive, and only come ut of hiding when they are being fed.

im starting to get a passion for clown loaches for some reason and now i have a strange desire to have them.

so i was wondering what would be the altimate setup?
-how many
-what size tank
-best combatible fish
-best grub for them
-etc...

thanks
beast

I agree with wayne here, 3 is the minimum in a 55g tank. My big clown loaches dont come out untill feeding time, but the smaller ones are more passive, and are usually out during the day. They WILL get up to 8-9" and i have proof of this.

The more hiding places you give them, the more you will see them during the day.

-how many
They are a gregarious species. I'd recommend at least 3.

-what size tank
They are slow-growing, but do attain an adult length of about 9 inches. A 55 g. would be minimal.

-best combatible fish
Just about anything except agressive chiclids.
They are bottom-dwellers, so I'd not recommend any other bottom dweller with territorial tendencies.

-best grub for them
Snails, shrimp pellets, an occasional algae wafer. Did I mention snails? I've set up a small 10 g. which is pretty much dedicated to propagating ramshorn snails.

-etc...
They like lots of hiding places. Makes them feel safe and secure. I keep mine in a tank with a few caves and LOTS of plants. They come out to feed, but that's pretty much all that I ever see them.

-Wayne

BeastKeeper

I would not know if you would consider my tank the perfect conditions but it seems to work for my Clowns .
The bigger the tank the better plenty of caves,driftwood, and extremly well planted. Be prepared to give them a very good mixed diet. Have a look at My Profile as to what is in my tank.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http:// www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info



Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

More the merrier!

BUt I Have found that you will need other fish that like to swim about or they will tend to hide away. Tiger barbs help greatly.

As already said 4 a bare minimum but always buy them in pairs if not more at a time not singular.

Make sure they have a cave to hide in as they will become stressed. They loose there colour if they are stressed to this is a good way to see if they are happy. Also you will need to feed them bloodworm at least once a week as that is what they trive on.

Also as they do not have scales they are very delicate to disease as well. So keeping the tank clean and healthy is a must.

These are cool fish and hope you do well with them.

Clown loaches need to be kept in a group of 3 as the minimum.

The minimum sized tank they can be in is 55 gallons.

Clowns will eat anything from brine shrimp and blood worms to flake food and sinking pellet food

Last edited by victimizati0n at 24-Jan-2005 17:19

I've got 7 in a 75. There is an Oscar, a Gold Severum, a Firemouth and a couple small Angels in with them.

I got some big thin flat rocks and built them a 3 tiered parking ramp. They love it.

Mike

Go with a 125 if you can swing it. I'm keeping my eye out for a used one.

I mostly feed mine sinking shrimp pellets but the love blood worms, brine shrimp nad as a special treat I cull MTS out of my other tanks.

Last edited by Mike R at 24-Jan-2005 13:49

Beast

The ultimate set up would be to have 100 in a swimming pool sized tank, but failing that, it depends on whether you plan on keeping them forever, or if you have somewhere you can sell them on when they outgrow your set up (which they will unless you have the swimming pool...).

I have 4 (although many say they do best in groups of 6+) in a 75ish USgal tank, they're approaching 6" and I'm starting to think that they're running out of room a bit as they're so active.

Compatible fish would be peaceful, nothing too bottom-space-hogging, I find cories are good for them to play with, and kuhlis seem to get on well too. All the other fish in my tank pretty much ignore them.

Food: I feed mine Tetramin granules which they'll take from my fingers and Hikari sinking algae wafers which they fight over. Fresh veg is also good for them, Keithgh often posts pics of his eating corgette (zucchini) and lettuce amongst other things. From my experience I'd say they're pigs which will eat anything thrown at them...

Sorry I went on a bit, hope some of that lot helps

Deb

IMO:

6-8 clown loaches, in a 125 gallon tank or more

With a big school of tiger barbs



And some largish cichlids for centerpiece fish

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish