Clown Loaches - Aquarium Advice

courtnee · 03-17-2007, 09:16 AM

Well I was going to buy a few YoYo Loaches for my snail problem in my tank. I get to the LFS and the YoYo Loaches are TINY. They would not stand a chance in my tank with my Four-Line Pictus cats. They would be supper in there.

They had 2 Clown Loaches that were at least a little bigger and about the size of my Serpae Tetra and would at least stand a chance in my tank. I am to a point I cant add really small fish in my tank.

I bought the 2 Clowns. I was comfortable with my purchase because they are to small yet to get the Apple Snail but large enough to feast on the baby pond snails in the tank.

I knew from this forum that the CL can get large so I took that thought into my head as well. They are slower growers at least! I already planned to get a larger tank in a few months.

I drooled over the 221GL tank they had at the LFS. It was beautiful. LOL I want 75-120-125gl range. They have a very good priced 75gl tank that I can get by summer. I orig. wanted it for my four-lines but now I have CL to worry about.

This is my idea on how to divide the fish into the two tanks. Want opinions.

75GL with

2 Clown Loaches
2 Four-Line pictus cats
1 common pleco

That is all I would stock in it. Since they are all larger fish I figure leaving it just that would be best. What does bother me is they are all bottom fish. The pleco I can alway return to the LFS when he gets to large to go to a better home. Right now he is like 2 inches.

55GL

2 spotted pictus
8 serpae tetra
8 white skirt tetra
3 glass tetra
3 bleeding heart tetra
apple snail

My sister wants me to take in her 2 spotted pictus and maybe her red tail shark. Hers are in a 10gl and very small. They need to get out of there. They have been in there over a year. My spotted pictus are small as well.

Shelby_Tempo_GT · 03-17-2007, 12:14 PM

if you are not adverse to chemical treatments... algae treatments will work. As it ills the algae, the snails eat it and voila... snails gone.

courtnee · 03-17-2007, 11:27 PM

Well I like snails so I rather not "murder" them lol and let nature do its thing letting a fish use them as a food source. Also I have an apple snail in there that I want to keep.

hsherman1986 · 03-17-2007, 11:32 PM

i would suggest something more around 125 and get some more clowns. They are schooling fish, and will really benefit from having a group of 3+. I had nine, and they were out all the time. I always saw them. By far my favorite fish. I will have a school again, but not until I get the right tank for them first.

Also, that way, maybe you can get a nice large school of tiger barbs or seomthing to fill out the rest of the tank...

Just a thought...

toddnbecka · 03-18-2007, 05:13 AM

I wouldn't worry about the pictus eating clown loaches. The spines under their eyes are quite effective for defense. Any catfish that grabbed a clown loach would quickly release it.

farmgirl · 03-18-2007, 03:48 PM

Hey Courtnee, I definately agree with hsherman, get a bigger tank and more clowns!! I have my 5 in a 90 for now. They are also by far my favorites, such personality. They are not just on the bottom, but all over, especially at feeding times, they almost swim upside down to skim the surface. At night they all cram into a little castle from walmart. And I also agree, their spines protect them quite well. They are also very peaceful community fish!!
Good luck, Farmgirl.

courtnee · 03-18-2007, 06:00 PM

Calling all Clown Loach people!! I am new to these fish and need some help! lol This post is long and full of questions but I am seeking education.

They have been in my tank since Friday and are doing GREAT! The have not become supperyet and I feel more comfortable with my choice to get the clowns instead of the YoYo Loaches. The YoYos would of been gone by now. They were not much bigger then a neon tetra. lol The Clowns are doing great swimming all over and digging in the gravel etc.

I must say they are really cute! I am enjoying them. They are out a lot and active.

Reading.... I may do the 75gl for now. I live in an apartment and the 75 is very affordable for me right now. I plan to get a house in a few years and can get the 125gl at that time. I would be happy to have a 55gl, 75gl and a 125gl so it will work out nice that way. Really now the clowns change my plans. I was thinking of a 125gl eventually just for my pleco and figured I would toss my fourline pictus cats in there. Now with the clowns it makes more sense to have a 75gl and a 125gl.

Opinions on this plan of action....

In a few months get the 75gl and move the 2 fourline pictus, pleco and clown loaches into the tank.

In about 2yrs when I get a house and get a 125+gl I will put the clowns and pleco in the new tank and leave the pictus in the 75gl as that is enough room for them. That will free up room on the bottom of the 125gl for just the clowns and pleco. Much better for them.

With this plan of action I am going to ask these questions.... I will repeat some background so those dont have to read from the start of this thread. Help me plan this out right. I want to be a good clown loach mom

1. How many adult clown loaches can live in a 125gl with a common pleco? So I have an idea of the final result I am shooting for.

2. I have 2 clown loaches now, they are small about 1 1/2 inches. They only had 2 of them. Do I get my complete school now so they are all together and move them together through this process? or should I stick with the 2 I have and get the rest in a few months when I get the 75gl

Information on the tank they are in for this question. They are in a stocked non planted 55gl tank, with gravel but I take great care in it. I have bubble curtains all along the back so there is plenty of air in the tank, 1 aquaclear filter for now.

1 common pleco (small)
2 fourline pictus cats - 5" each
2 spotted pictus cats - 2-3"
8 serpae tetra
8 white skirt tetra
3 glass tetra
3 bleeding heart tetra
1 apple snail

50% water changes every week, gravel vac once a week. My nitrIte and ammonia have never shown anything above 0, nitrAte sits at 20 and never have seen it go higher. My PH is 7 to 7.2 I suck at reading the test tube.

3. When I get the 75gl tank in a few months I will need to set it up to make everyone happy in there. I don't want a planted tank. I have read that clown loaches love water movement and sand. I want a sand bottom on a tank. I will repeat this in the 125gl

Filter x3 a good choice?
sand bottom? will have to see if the pictus will be okay with this? Plecos okay with sand?

4. Diet. I feed my current family of fish in there brine shrimp flakes with bits of shrimp (its a big hit) algae waffers for the pleco and snail that the serpae tetra love to eat too, sinking pellets for the catfish that all fish in there seem to enjoy as well, frozen blood worms, regular flake food, peas (big hit) and other veggies and fruits.

There is a lot of tiny baby snails in the tank (why I got the clown loaches) that I have already seen the clowns go after YAY so the clowns are getting that food source.

Anything else I am missing for these guys?

hsherman1986 · 03-18-2007, 10:28 PM

SO long as you plan on going bigger in the future, you are in good shape. Lucky for you, clown loaches grow slowly. They will get to 6" quick, but slow down drastically after that. DEFINTLY get more ASAP, that way, they are all the same size, and will grow up together, and have their heirarchy already established. I know a guy that has 20+ clown loaches in a 150g, and everyone has plenty of space to move around. They are also the only fish in the tank. I would recommend 10-15 loaches for a 125g if they will be the only bottom dweller (other than the pleco of course)

The loaches will LOVE the sand, it is much easier on their barbles than gravel. You will always see them sifting through it looking for food/snails.

As for what to feed them, they will eat anything that sinks. THey love shrimp pellets, and any sinking wafer. I was feeding mine Hikari Sinking Wafers for Bottom Feeders, and it would always be a clicking fest in the tank at feeding time (they will click when they eat if they really like the food)

Don't have any hollow ornaments in the tank, they love tiny hiding places, and WILL get themselves stuck in the small holes.

**Zagz** · 03-18-2007, 10:52 PM

I'll second them going and getting stuck in ornaments. I have 8 in a 125 gal. I also have a common pleco in that tank. As well as several adult malawi cichlids. I have pool filter sand. The loaches are between 4-5" right now. They are a riot to watch when there are a few of them. They play together all day long. As for feeding, I give them the same food as the cichlids, NLS cichlid pellets, veggies and fruits and algae wafers for the pleco. They love zucchini.

I don't have an XP3 so I can't comment on it. Others on this board have them and will offer their opinions. I run a fluval 404 and a fluval FX5 on my 125 gal.

I also have for bottom feeders, 3 cuckoo catfish and a striped raphael catfish.

I would get at least 3 more loaches for right now, 5 will still be quite fine in a75 gal with your plan for stocking.

courtnee · 03-19-2007, 04:16 AM

yay. This is sooo cool.

I am going to find out when the next shipment comes in and wait a few days before I go get the other 3 Clown Loaches. See if they will hold 3 for me.

I am going to stop smoking in the next two weeks and my gift to myself? My 75gl tank for the first month of money savings.

I am going to buy the tank, stand, hood and lights the first month (April) in May I will buy the filter which I am thinking XP3 and the pool sand and decorations and fishless cycle it.

I am so excited.

03-17-2007, 09:16 AM	#1
courtnee Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Dakota, USA Posts: 284 Images: 2	Clown Loaches Well I was going to buy a few YoYo Loaches for my snail problem in my tank. I get to the LFS and the YoYo Loaches are TINY. They would not stand a chance in my tank with my Four-Line Pictus cats. They would be supper in there. They had 2 Clown Loaches that were at least a little bigger and about the size of my Serpae Tetra and would at least stand a chance in my tank. I am to a point I cant add really small fish in my tank. I bought the 2 Clowns. I was comfortable with my purchase because they are to small yet to get the Apple Snail but large enough to feast on the baby pond snails in the tank. I knew from this forum that the CL can get large so I took that thought into my head as well. They are slower growers at least! I already planned to get a larger tank in a few months. I drooled over the 221GL tank they had at the LFS. It was beautiful. LOL I want 75-120-125gl range. They have a very good priced 75gl tank that I can get by summer. I orig. wanted it for my four-lines but now I have CL to worry about. This is my idea on how to divide the fish into the two tanks. Want opinions. 75GL with 2 Clown Loaches 2 Four-Line pictus cats 1 common pleco That is all I would stock in it. Since they are all larger fish I figure leaving it just that would be best. What does bother me is they are all bottom fish. The pleco I can alway return to the LFS when he gets to large to go to a better home. Right now he is like 2 inches. 55GL 2 spotted pictus 8 serpae tetra 8 white skirt tetra 3 glass tetra 3 bleeding heart tetra apple snail My sister wants me to take in her 2 spotted pictus and maybe her red tail shark. Hers are in a 10gl and very small. They need to get out of there. They have been in there over a year. My spotted pictus are small as well.

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03-17-2007, 12:14 PM	#2
Shelby_Tempo_GT Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: GTA Posts: 72	if you are not adverse to chemical treatments... algae treatments will work. As it ills the algae, the snails eat it and voila... snails gone.

03-17-2007, 11:27 PM	#3
courtnee Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Dakota, USA Posts: 284 Images: 2	Well I like snails so I rather not "murder" them lol and let nature do its thing letting a fish use them as a food source. Also I have an apple snail in there that I want to keep.

03-17-2007, 11:32 PM	#4
hsherman1986 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 719	i would suggest something more around 125 and get some more clowns. They are schooling fish, and will really benefit from having a group of 3+. I had nine, and they were out all the time. I always saw them. By far my favorite fish. I will have a school again, but not until I get the right tank for them first. Also, that way, maybe you can get a nice large school of tiger barbs or seomthing to fill out the rest of the tank... Just a thought...

03-18-2007, 05:13 AM	#5
toddnbecka Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cumberland, MD Posts: 750	I wouldn't worry about the pictus eating clown loaches. The spines under their eyes are quite effective for defense. Any catfish that grabbed a clown loach would quickly release it.

03-18-2007, 03:48 PM	#6
farmgirl Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 76	Hey Courtnee, I definately agree with hsherman, get a bigger tank and more clowns!! I have my 5 in a 90 for now. They are also by far my favorites, such personality. They are not just on the bottom, but all over, especially at feeding times, they almost swim upside down to skim the surface. At night they all cram into a little castle from walmart. And I also agree, their spines protect them quite well. They are also very peaceful community fish!! Good luck, Farmgirl.

03-18-2007, 06:00 PM	#7
courtnee Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Dakota, USA Posts: 284 Images: 2	Calling all Clown Loach people!! I am new to these fish and need some help! lol This post is long and full of questions but I am seeking education. They have been in my tank since Friday and are doing GREAT! The have not become supperyet and I feel more comfortable with my choice to get the clowns instead of the YoYo Loaches. The YoYos would of been gone by now. They were not much bigger then a neon tetra. lol The Clowns are doing great swimming all over and digging in the gravel etc. I must say they are really cute! I am enjoying them. They are out a lot and active. Reading.... I may do the 75gl for now. I live in an apartment and the 75 is very affordable for me right now. I plan to get a house in a few years and can get the 125gl at that time. I would be happy to have a 55gl, 75gl and a 125gl so it will work out nice that way. Really now the clowns change my plans. I was thinking of a 125gl eventually just for my pleco and figured I would toss my fourline pictus cats in there. Now with the clowns it makes more sense to have a 75gl and a 125gl. Opinions on this plan of action.... In a few months get the 75gl and move the 2 fourline pictus, pleco and clown loaches into the tank. In about 2yrs when I get a house and get a 125+gl I will put the clowns and pleco in the new tank and leave the pictus in the 75gl as that is enough room for them. That will free up room on the bottom of the 125gl for just the clowns and pleco. Much better for them. With this plan of action I am going to ask these questions.... I will repeat some background so those dont have to read from the start of this thread. Help me plan this out right. I want to be a good clown loach mom 1. How many adult clown loaches can live in a 125gl with a common pleco? So I have an idea of the final result I am shooting for. 2. I have 2 clown loaches now, they are small about 1 1/2 inches. They only had 2 of them. Do I get my complete school now so they are all together and move them together through this process? or should I stick with the 2 I have and get the rest in a few months when I get the 75gl Information on the tank they are in for this question. They are in a stocked non planted 55gl tank, with gravel but I take great care in it. I have bubble curtains all along the back so there is plenty of air in the tank, 1 aquaclear filter for now. 1 common pleco (small) 2 fourline pictus cats - 5" each 2 spotted pictus cats - 2-3" 8 serpae tetra 8 white skirt tetra 3 glass tetra 3 bleeding heart tetra 1 apple snail 50% water changes every week, gravel vac once a week. My nitrIte and ammonia have never shown anything above 0, nitrAte sits at 20 and never have seen it go higher. My PH is 7 to 7.2 I suck at reading the test tube. 3. When I get the 75gl tank in a few months I will need to set it up to make everyone happy in there. I don't want a planted tank. I have read that clown loaches love water movement and sand. I want a sand bottom on a tank. I will repeat this in the 125gl Filter x3 a good choice? sand bottom? will have to see if the pictus will be okay with this? Plecos okay with sand? 4. Diet. I feed my current family of fish in there brine shrimp flakes with bits of shrimp (its a big hit) algae waffers for the pleco and snail that the serpae tetra love to eat too, sinking pellets for the catfish that all fish in there seem to enjoy as well, frozen blood worms, regular flake food, peas (big hit) and other veggies and fruits. There is a lot of tiny baby snails in the tank (why I got the clown loaches) that I have already seen the clowns go after YAY so the clowns are getting that food source. Anything else I am missing for these guys?

03-18-2007, 10:28 PM	#8
hsherman1986 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 719	SO long as you plan on going bigger in the future, you are in good shape. Lucky for you, clown loaches grow slowly. They will get to 6" quick, but slow down drastically after that. DEFINTLY get more ASAP, that way, they are all the same size, and will grow up together, and have their heirarchy already established. I know a guy that has 20+ clown loaches in a 150g, and everyone has plenty of space to move around. They are also the only fish in the tank. I would recommend 10-15 loaches for a 125g if they will be the only bottom dweller (other than the pleco of course) The loaches will LOVE the sand, it is much easier on their barbles than gravel. You will always see them sifting through it looking for food/snails. As for what to feed them, they will eat anything that sinks. THey love shrimp pellets, and any sinking wafer. I was feeding mine Hikari Sinking Wafers for Bottom Feeders, and it would always be a clicking fest in the tank at feeding time (they will click when they eat if they really like the food) Don't have any hollow ornaments in the tank, they love tiny hiding places, and WILL get themselves stuck in the small holes.

03-19-2007, 04:16 AM	#10
courtnee Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Dakota, USA Posts: 284 Images: 2	yay. This is sooo cool. I am going to find out when the next shipment comes in and wait a few days before I go get the other 3 Clown Loaches. See if they will hold 3 for me. I am going to stop smoking in the next two weeks and my gift to myself? My 75gl tank for the first month of money savings. I am going to buy the tank, stand, hood and lights the first month (April) in May I will buy the filter which I am thinking XP3 and the pool sand and decorations and fishless cycle it. I am so excited.