akamel

I have a 10 gal tank with 2 blue gouramis, a baby/juvenile green severum, and 1 clown loach--had 2 but one died. I read that loaches prefer to be in with more than one of their kind--read they they get stressed or maybe even die if they are the only one. Is this true ? do I need to get some more so its not stressed or would it be ok just to have the one?? How do you tell if male or female? how easy are they to breed?

I've moved your thread from "loaches" to Loaches/ClownLoaches section of the forum. Thanks!
Ken

Lucy

I wouldn't advise getting any more clown loaches and possibly re-homing the one you have. I'm sorry, but they get much too big to live a happy healthy life in a 10g.

Butterfly

Clowns do best in groups of three or more. Recommended tank size is 75g. They grow really fast the first year then slow down but need lots of swimming room. Here's some excellent information http://www.loaches.com/species-index...a-macracanthus
I too feel the one you have needs to be returned or re-homed unless you can provide it other Clowns to school/sleep with and a much larger tank.
Clown Loaches we see in the pet stores are most likely wild caught.
Hope that helped.
carol
Clowns aren't sexually mature until they are about seven years ago and females are much chunkier than males. They have been bred by professional breeders using hormones other wise to my knowledge they haven't been bred in home aquaria.

akamel

thanks! I definately have plans of getting bigger tank in the very near future !! To tell you the truth I daont care for 10 or 20 gallon tanks except for QT's. I want at least a 55 gallon . The loach is juvenile and will be getting bigger tank in a month--so should I get 1 other loach or a couple more ( for 55 gal)

PetiteTank

I also have a clown loach and he's funny little bugger. I have come across info online that they can be as big as 18". The one I was looking at was about 11 lbs. From pics, it definitely shows that for these clownies, the more the merrier. they show more of their personality and perform the "clown dance". I will post it if I ever come across it again.

AlyeskaGirl

You need 3 or more to be happy but a 55 gallon isn't big enough for them.

btate617

I wouldn't do clowns in a 55gal.
Also that sev of yours has the potential to get to 8-9" if properly cared for.

Brian