Spiky Stripes

[Emma Turner]

Thought you all might like to see a pic of one of our biggest clown loaches, Stripes, with suborbital spine extended:



Quite pleased with how the photo came out, considering I took it after lights out. Stripes measures exactly 11" TL.

Emma

[starsplitter7]

Wow! That is a great picture. Those spikes look formidible. How long are they?

[glenna]

wow, that is a GREAT shot.
I have only seen the spike out on one of my loaches, and he/she will only poke it out for a few seconds ( sort of a random thing and not necessarily when upset) ....always a thrill, and maybe just keeping the "tools lubed for action"?I'll bet that wound hurt like the devil if your ever got barbed with one.

[starsplitter7]

I've gotten barbs when they jump out of the tank and I am rushing to throw them back in. It is not pleasant. And none of mine are as big as stripes.

[Barracuda518]

Awesome Pic

[shadoj]

Must be fun to have a group of such big loaches! Really neat photo.

[redshark1]

Thankyou for sharing this lovely picture Emma.

Also, thankyou for raising the profile of the Clown Loach and also for educating people about the conditions needed to keep them through the excellent Practical Fishkeeping Magazine, which I subscribe to.

It is through this magazine that I found the excellent Loaches Online.

When I purchased my six Clown Loaches I was recommended to keep them in a 3ft tank. Luckily I had already decided to get a 6ft one. I had to swallow hard when I read your article which suggested that even this is smaller than optimal.

However, having respected your advice and given it some thought I realise that you are right and my Loaches will not reach their full potential.

Do you think that continuing to keep them in their current tank will be acceptable and what disadvantages will my loaches suffer?

[Graeme Robson]

Superb!!