Neon Tetras with Clown Loach

[krazykat]

Yes, clown loach (singular). I tried to get 8 more CLs, successfully QTd them. I was actually able to grow them on from 1.5 to about 3". Then got 3 more and just added them to the 65 where the 8 juvie CLS were - BIG MISTAKE! ICH got them all. So the original CL I have that I have had since 2004, which is in the discus tank, is STILL the original CL, all by himself. Anyway, I have some neon tetras in a 29 gallon tank that I am very attached to. The CL is in an 84F 75 gallon discus tank right now. I would like to bring down the temp to 78F and put the neon tetras in with it. If I do this slowly, like 1 degree down a week, do you think that Shamu (the CL) will make it and not break out in ich? Would you do it? Or just move Shamu to the discus tank which would have the same parameters as the 75 gallon discus tank right now? I am avoiding putting the neons in with the discus because I don't want them to turn into discus snack. WWYD?

[LoachOrgy]

i had some clowns eat my neons in the past. but my glolight tetras do fine. which are roughly the same size as the neons.

ive read in many instances that people have no problems adding neons and clowns together. i may be the only one that had the problem with them.


i currently house a number of smaller fish with my clowns and the clowns don't eat them at all.

glo light tetras
rasboras
cherry barbs
flame tetras
ive had some other serpae tetras

i had one instance where a small baby corydora went missing the night i upt him in but i think that had more to do with my 18" pleco at the time.

[LeStat]

I tried putting a dozen neons in with my clowns once, the next morning there were five left then on the second morning there was only one lonely little neon there.

That one survivor was the largest and that is maybe why he wasn't eaten, you may get away with putting some fully grown adults in there.

[uvamargo]

i keep 5 clowns with 2 neons very easily, and they all seem to get along.

(first post!)

[Diana]

Neon Tetras are a cooler water fish, I would not keep them in a warm water tank like this.

[krazykat]

Thanks for responses, everybody! Diana, what do you think of keeping the tank at 78F and gradually acclimating Shamu to that from 84F? Is 78F the upper threshold in temps for the neons?

[krazykat]

i keep 5 clowns with 2 neons very easily, and they all seem to get along.

(first post!)

Wow, uvamargo, 1st post! I am honored!

[Gary Stanton]

Thanks for responses, everybody! Diana, what do you think of keeping the tank at 78F and gradually acclimating Shamu to that from 84F? Is 78F the upper threshold in temps for the neons?

What you are attempting to do is acclimate both types of fish to a temp that is not ideal. Neons need it colder than 78º and clowns need it warmer. These fish have evolved eons and need the right temp for a long healthy life. Any diversion will fail in the long run.

[krazykat]

Thank you, Gary! I have decided to just keep Shamu with my discus. He is used to them. I may have to get rid of some discus so I can turn the 75 into a SA tank and be able to keep the tetras.

[uvamargo]

well... i have an addendum to my "neons living happily ever after with loaches" comment above...

the tank was set up for a small shoal of baby clown loaches (5 loaches, all under 3 inches, 55g). i also have 2 kubotai and some various dither fish (including the aforementioned neons).

so last night i got crazy and totally upended the tank, creating all sorts of little hiding havens and driftwood sculptures, as well as added some big (plastic) plants for some coverage. even added a second HOB marineland filter to increase the surface agitation and double the GPH filtration.

uh oh.

i now have insanely happy loaches (my big one is also named shamu, coincidentally) who are doing the loachy dance all over the place, clicking their little hearts out, and generally demonstrating all the happy loach tendencies (including passing out on their sides together under driftwood after all the playing).

so this morning... happy loaches... down one neon.

oops.

[shari2]

guess they prefer a challenging hunt. sitting duck neon's must be less fun...

[krazykat]

wow uvamargo! I wonder how many other CL owners out there have a CL named Shamu too!