MARTIN

I`ve been keeping fish for a year or so now and fancy getting some clown loaches. Would like some honest advice as i am still finding my way with it all . I`ve got an 80ltr tank with some danios, tetras, guppys and a pakistani loach and there all doing ok. Just want to make sure than clown loaches would fit in ok(especialy with pakistani loach). Thanks.

Tom

All I can say is read this.
http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/84-clo...onsider.0.html
After reading it you should realize that clown loaches need a big tank(nothing less than 55 gallons). Your tank is about a 21 gallon tank.
Tom

poppet

I wanted a clown loach, but after doing some reading i even thought my 55g was too small.

sgould

I had the exact same experience with my 55. I ended up going with YoYo's instead.

MARTIN

Thanks for info about tank size. Was thinking about getting bigger tank soon and this has made my mind up. When i start my larger tank can i use some water from my existing tank or start with all fresh water and mature from scratch?
Thanks.

vin

It's not the water that you need, it's what's in your substrate. The bacteria that we need in our tanks grows in the substrate, on the filter media, plants, decor, etc.....You could take some of the gravel from your current tank and 'seed' the new one with that. I believe - and others will surely correct me if I'm wrong - you'd be better off cycling your new tank from scratch.

MARTIN

Nice one. While on the subject of substrate, can you have a coarse/soft substrate mix or only one or the other. Bearing in mind i want to get some clown loaches.
Thanks

vin

I would try to stay with a smooth substrate such as pea gravel. Aquarium stone is fine, just try not to get anything to jagged. Since Clown Loaches are bottom dwellers and have very tiny scales they can be damaged by sharp surfaces. They need lots of places to hide - especially to sleep. They do best in multiples to avoid bouts of aggression. Some folks here say 3-5 or more. But they can get really big too. Up to 12" long!