Annelies

I have 4 clown loaches, 3 are large and very active the other is very small and hasn't grown at all, it's markings are different to the others, is it a different breed of clown loach? It doesn't interact with the others and seems unhappy spending time on it's own moving slowly and is unaffected by movement outside the tank unlike the others! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

mathas

Can you post any pictures? Clowns can have a variety of markings, as seen in the link below, but pictures would help people give you a more definitive answer.

http://www.loaches.com/articles/clow...ing-variations

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!
although I agree with mathas, 1 clown loach can get over a foot long..and in a 16g(60 litre) tank, with the other fish you have in there as well, you are severely overstocked and the fish are not able to grow to their potential.im sorry .do you mean a 60 gallon tank or is it litres?

Annelies

I have a 140 gallon tank for them to move into once they have grown to a size that they won't be eaten, but at the moment they'd just be food, they're healthy and growing well, soon to join my other loaches in the large aquarium. I've not ever had any problems with my loaches until this one with the different markings, a full band at nose and tail with two half moon shapes either side of the dorsal fin!

Butterfly

Welcome to Fishlore!
Loaches especially clowns are very sensitive to water quality. Please tell us your ammonia, nitrite and Nitrates readings. Also what kind of testing supplies are you using.
16g is too small for the Clown Loaches alone as they are heavy waste producers and need lots of room to swim. They also need lots of hiding/sleeping places. your Clown Loach could very well be reacting to that lack of space.
I love the different stripe patterns
What is in the 140g that would eat them? Let us know how they are doing.
Carol

aquarist48

Hello Annelies and Welcome to Fish Lore.

http://www.loaches.com/species-index...a-macracanthus
Above is a link you may find interesting.
Best wishes and I hope your Clown is ok.
Ken

Butterfly

How is your Clown today?