Is clown loach a good community fish?

[gouramiguy88]

I was thinking about adding 3 to my 70 gallon.

I have two blue gourami's
8 platy's
8 Bosemans rainbows
3 cory cats?


Think they would make a good fit?

[platy ben]

I think they would make you overstocked, clown loaches can become very big fish, i just recently gave my 3 juevies to a friend with a 100G tank.

[agabr123]

i'm with platy ben, clown loaches get HUGE, over 12 inches and very deep. i wouldn't risk putting three in a 70 gallon. IMO 70 would be the absolute minimum for one, and they really have to be in groups otherwise they get extremely stressed (sometimes to the point of death).

however, i think six yoyo loaches would be a great fit
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-almorhae

[spider_pig]

yes,they are great community fish, but very sensitive. loaches get ICH very easily and they are sensitive to the medicine.

[jen.chris]

I've read in a few different places that clown loach's only get to 6-8inches in a home aquarium, that 12inches is their max growth in the wild.
We recently bought one clown loach to put in our 75gallon tank. It is a very active fish (right from the bag), it doesnt seem shy at all, and often follows my corydora's around.
That's just my short experience, I'm sure loaches can have different personalities.

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fres...ClownLoach.php

[Butterfly]

Clown Loaches make excellent community fish. The downside is that they get extremely large and need a large tank with extremely good water quality.
There are many places online to get information on clown Loaches, the best place I know of is http://forums.loaches.com/ (forum) and their information site http://www.loaches.com/index.html
Clown Loaches can get in excess of 12 inches sometimes as much as 16 inches in home aquaria. Here are some examples.
http://www.loaches.com/species-index...a-macracanthus
In groups they are more likely to show their natural habits.
Gouramiguy88 - Yoyos http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-almorhae, Dwarf Loaches http://www.loaches.com/species-index...ia-sidthimunki and Striatas http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-striata would be excellent choices for your tank. The larger the group the better.
Carol

[jen.chris]

Ok, thanks- We bought one and because he does get along quite well with our cory's and they do get big, Im not going to get anymore.

But since they do get big, I will plan that accordingly as fish in my tank with shorter lifespans pass (as in not replacing them, to make room as the loach grows over the years).

[Butterfly]

Originally Posted by jen.chris

Ok, thanks- We bought one and because he does get along quite well with our cory's and they do get big, Im not going to get anymore.

But since they do get big, I will plan that accordingly as fish in my tank with shorter lifespans pass (as in not replacing them, to make room as the loach grows over the years).

Excellent planning they tend to grow fast the first year(ours got over six inches) and then slow down. They were seven and eight inches when we moved to another state and they didn't make the move successfully. I really miss them they were really cool fish.
Carol

[jen.chris]

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Excellent planning they tend to grow fast the first year(ours got over six inches) and then slow down. They were seven and eight inches when we moved to another state and they didn't make the move successfully. I really miss them they were really cool fish.
Carol

Yeah, I was planning on 6 inches, so were fine for awhile.
&
That's my worry (fish dying during travel)-if we ever move, especially out of state, it would be heartbreaking.

Thanks for your help

[Cordi]

clown loach will be fine in your 70g tank for the time being. it's not over stocked so they will grow well, when they get to abut 5-6 inchs they will need to be moved to a bigger tank of at least 125g (imperial - or 6x2x2).

they are very playfull fish who will interact with everything else in your tank, especially cory's.

you should really keep AT LEAST 5-6 of them to see them at their best

[AlyeskaGirl]

If you really like Loaches you can get one's that don't get so big and able to get at least 3.

[David593]

I have a clown loach in my ten gallon with a group of cardinals and a guppy.

I realized a day later that it was a huge mistake. However, I am quite surprised at how it have gone. He is so colorful and loves to follow the fish around and hang out with everyone (non-aggresive way). It's been half a year and It looks like he couldn't be happier. Also, these fish grow super slow, so if you plan on upgrading, you should be able to put three little guys and watch them grow up. They live long lifes and grow most of their lives. I think the longest lived one was around 50!

[Butterfly]

Originally Posted by David593

I have a clown loach in my ten gallon with a group of cardinals and a guppy.

I realized a day later that it was a huge mistake. However, I am quite surprised at how it have gone. He is so colorful and loves to follow the fish around and hang out with everyone (non-aggresive way). It's been half a year and It looks like he couldn't be happier. Also, these fish grow super slow, so if you plan on upgrading, you should be able to put three little guys and watch them grow up. They live long lifes and grow most of their lives. I think the longest lived one was around 50!

David I'm glad you realize a 10g tank is too small for the Clown Loach. I have to say that six months is too long for a Clown Loach of any size to stay in a 10g tank. He needs a bigger tank as soon as possible.
carol

[zeashan]

:;

Originally Posted by gouramiguy88

I was thinking about adding 3 to my 70 gallon.

I have two blue gourami's
8 platy's
8 Bosemans rainbows
3 cory cats?


Think they would make a good fit?

hi if you want to have clown loaches please buy atleast 5 they will be more happier . the more the better.

[Butterfly]

Originally Posted by zeashan

:;

hi if you want to have clown loaches please buy atleast 5 they will be more happier . the more the better.

But not in a 70g tank.
Carol