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November 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Bye Bye Loaches!
Hello all, a very sad week for us. We bought our three loaches a while ago to help us with a snail takeover..always with the intentions of bringing them back when they started to grow so that we do not stunt them in our 55 gallon. Well, the time has come, but it is far from easy. They are, by far, the most interesting fish in our tank right now. Each has their own personality...one is nosy and tries to get in everyone's business and the other two just dance all day...truly a wonderful fish. They are little piggies, and have all but devoured our Amazon Sword..but we love them. I truly recommend a group of clowns for anyone with an appropriate tank..maybe someday when we have room for a 100 gal we will have some again. I have tried to get some good pictures but haven't yet mastered the live action shot. | 
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November 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| I'm sorry you have to take them back, but it's good that you are doing what's best for them.  They are really cute. Maybe this will be the motivator for that next step of MTS.... | |
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November 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| They are truely clowns,
I had 13 in a 125g but during the 1500 mile move all but one died!
I have a 200g i am setting up for them right now, designed around their needs, but after loosing so many i am slowly building up the collection of them again. I am currently back to 6 but always on the look out for more!
I congratulate you on keeping true to your word and returning them to the LFS when the time came, not many people can do that and let them suffer in small tanks.
Maybe one day you can have a 100g+ tank for them and get a bigger school of them? I know mine really developed personalities once in a school bigger than 10!
Anna | |
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November 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Thanks for the encouragement! Anna, you are so right, definitely clowns...very true to their name...Feeding time wont be the same without hearing click click click....I for sure would love to have a bigger school of them someday, I am sorry to hear about yours! I would rather mine go to you than back to the LFS to be honest...worried that I will take them back just for them to find their way into a worse situation...too bad we live so far apart! Thank you for you words, they do make it easier!  | |
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November 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Quote:
Originally Posted by iloveengl  I'm sorry you have to take them back, but it's good that you are doing what's best for them. They are really cute. Maybe this will be the motivator for that next step of MTS.... | Have heard alot about MTS around the forum...out of curiosity, will they eat Beard algae? I have been considering SAE's but would consider MTS...do they need something like a loach to keep them under control though? I got my baby clowns to get rid of pest snails...I have nothing against snails who don't eat plants...but I don't want a million | |
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November 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| MTS = multiple tank syndrome or Malaysian trumpet snails (would need to get the clowns back to control). Iloveengl was referring to the first MTS!
For beard algae i would recommend cutting down on amount of hours lighting is on with the tank. If possible turn the lighting off for a couple of hours during the middle of the day.
SAE's can help and do eat beard algae but you have to make sure you get true SAE's not chinese algae eaters or otto's. They like being in schools.
Anna | |
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November 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
|  oops, sorry I am new to the abbreviations! haha, red cheeks here..thanks though, I have read about SAEs and have been thinking about seeing if I can get a few when I return my loaches, I posted a thread in cyprinids hoping to learn more, thank you again! My lights run at night when we are home but it sometimes does get a little bright in the room on hot days, I am wondering if the natural light is the culprit? The blinds are always shut but I do live in the south... | |
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November 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| Ha! My fault - I was referring to multiple tank syndrome  .
I do believe, though, leaving the lights on for more than 12hrs per day can cause algae problems. Have you tried a total black out for 2 days? Cover the tank with a dark sheet and leave the lights off in the tank. This will starve the algae and it will die off. After that, reduce the tank lights to less than 12 hrs per day.  | |
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November 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| Hi Kat. Sorry that you have to return your Clowns... I agree with iloveengl, it is for the best for them. You're doing a good thing, and someday you'll get a bigger tank just for them and they'll love you for it! | |
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November 9th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| You're a great fish mom. Even though it stinks, you're doing the right thing.
Have a good day | |
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November 9th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Yes you are doing what's best for them even though it hurts really bad. I too have clowns and know how hard it would be to give them up. Congrats on being such a good fishie parent . Wish there were a larger tank in your near future.
carol | |
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