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The figures, six, came from experienced hobbyists who know the requirements of keeping Clowns, Keith, not "they"...

And six is the suggested minimum number of Clown Loaches that tend to keep the trops secure and happy in a tank of large gallonage.

--garyroland.

i have 8 of them...they are much much happier when they r in a group of more than 3

I have six clown loaches and I rarely see all of them out at one time. As was said above, one is always hiding. I figure this is because he drew the short straw and has to stay back to hold their place in the cave.... Just in case something happens....

My one loach is the same.

He just hides all day and doesnt come out untill i feed the fish.

I originally had three clown loaches. Two of them played out in the open all the time and one always hid. Recently I got two more, so now I have five. Four of them play out in the open and the same one always hides. Increasing the herd from 3 to 5 seemed to have no affect whatsoever on their behaviour. I suspect that adding one more to make up the magical '6' wouldn't make any difference either.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all in favour of keeping social fish in the biggest group you can comfortably house. But I also think there are individual differences between fish just like there are with people. Maybe my loner loach just isn't the partying kind.

I will say 6 or more. The bigger the school, the happier and healthier ur clowns. Not that clowns mind smaller schools, but they like each other's company.

Yes, i agree that a group of 6+ is best for Clowns.

But sometimes groups smaller than that can work out fine.

My friend only kept two clowns in his 5ft and they were perfectly normal. They would play etc. They always schooled with the african cichlids he kept aswell.

I started with 3 clowns several years ago and they mostly hid since raising the number to 8 about 2 years ago they are active pretty much all the time except when piled on top of each other in there look at me i'm dead game.They vary in size from about 3inches to about 9.

Gibson SG you know you want one!!

6 or more generally

---

''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

Are clown loaches kept best in groups or are they happy alone?
thanks.........openwater

I have 3 clown loaches and they are all active and have nice colors. I keep them with cichlids, silver dollars, giant danios.

openwater

I have three large 5-6ins and four all about 1&1/2 ins. in my 5ft tank

I personally thing all these figeres came out from the Universitity of "THEY".

THEY say

The number you can have will depend on several factors your tank size, filtration, and other its inhabitants.

That did not come from th UNI of THEY but the facts of life. Every case is different.

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

It is my experience that clown loaches are happy-er in groups of no less than 5. They come out and frolic the more there are. If you have less than 4 they tend to hide more often than not (at least when they start getting a little older). Some say if you don't have but a couple of clown loaches... you should have another kind of schooling fish in the tank. I think this is because if the schooling fish (such as tetras or barbs) are out and swimming around...all is okay to be out and about. If the school darts, the clown loach knows to hide. *shrugs*... Just what I have observed....

You could say at least a group of 3...but clown loaches are shoaling fish who need a group of 6 or more in order to be happy and thrive. Please keep in mind, that in addition, they grow very large, and need large tanks. Other than that, they make great community fish, and love to play dead. Check out the profile on the clown loach here for more information.
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Last edited by PM Fantom at 30-Dec-2004 17:00

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

clowns need a group of 3 at least for them to be happy.

Three is the minimum number of clown loaches I'd keep in a single tank, but more is better. They are really active and boisterous, and will sometimes bother tankmates and each other. Still though, a large group of clown beats just one or two any day.

---

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

Groups of 6 or more are best.

As with all loaches, they enjoy the company of one another...to a certain extent. Remember, they are territorial fish and will give a bit of chase towards conspecifics.