Lonely Clown Loach (small tank)

[Derfel]

I started a fish tank about 8 years ago and left it in the care of my parents for the past 5 years while I have been studying and travelling, they are now back in my care and I have been reading up on the new fish they have added over the years. There is 1 Clown Loach in the 30 x 12 x 15 tank. I read up on Clown Loaches and found out they are very social fish and get irritable and aggressive when kept alone (which mine certainly seems to be on occasion - he's definately the alpha-fish of the tank!). Apparently they should be kept in groups of a minimum of 3 but am I right in thinking my tank couldn't really support 2 (or even 1) more Clown Loaches (presuming they would grow to at least 4" each like the current one has - pretty sure it's stopped now) aswell as any other fish I am planning to add. Should I even be looking for a new home for it - some sites say a tank with twice the dimensions of mine is the minimum for these fish.

Any opinions or recommendations appreciated!



Setup:

Well established (8yrs+) tank 30 x 12 x 15 (24 Gallons)
Fluval 3 Plus - Internal Filter
Heater (recently replaced)


Current Fish:

3 x Cardinal Tetra - (1 inch)

2 x Black Tetra (Redeye) - (1.5 inch)

1 x Some kind of Red Tetra - (1.5inch)

2 x Kulhi (Coolie) Loach - (3 Inch each)

1 x Albino Corydoras - (2 Inch)

1 x Clown Loach - (4 Inch) quite old so presumed to be stopped growing

1 x Bristle-Nose Pleco - (4 Inch) only remaining original fish!

[chefkeith]

Poor clown. You really need to study up on the needs of your fish.

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=2625

MODERATOR EDIT (By Martin Thoene) actually, check the new improved version here:

http://community.loaches.com/species-in ... cracanthus

[Tiny]

your fishtank definitely looks big enough for at least 2 more clown loaches. Clown loach need fellow companions and they don't grow that big anyway. Nowhere near as big as tinfoil barbs do

[Martin Thoene]

Tiny, please read the linked profile above. With respect, you are talking complete rubbish.



Martin.

[angelfish83]

Tiny, please read the linked profile above. With respect, you are talking complete rubbish.



Martin.

The fish on the right is an entire foot!??? Wow...

[Derfel]

Poor clown. You really need to study up on the needs of your fish.

yes indeed, like I said the tank is only just back under my control and it was not me who added the Clown. Studying up on the needs of the Clown is exactly why I am here asking questions. I have found out that according to many my tank is too small for the Clown so I'm asking for opinions about whether it's advisable to add a couple of friends for him, try and rehome him, or just leave him alone as he's been there a few years and seems very healthy.

thanks for the link, although it's through reading that page in the first place I came to find these forums!

[chefkeith]

I would get a bigger tank and more clowns. Be sure to quarantine any new fish. Cross contamination from New fish is the #1 cause of fish diseases.

[Emma Turner]

Hi Derfel and welcome to Loaches Online.

You really need to get a larger tank for keeping clown loaches, and sooner rather than later. Your lone specimen is on the verge of becoming stunted because of being kept in a tank that is far too small. If you cannot see yourself getting a larger tank, then you must think about rehoming the fish. Clown loaches are all too often mis-sold for aquariums that are far too small for them; I wouldn't recommend keeping juveniles in tanks less than 4ft in length, and adults will need a tank of at least 6ft x 2ft x 2ft. The large clowns in the photograph Martin supplied are two of my shoal of 40 and they live in a 1000 litre aquarium (we are going to have to invest in an even bigger tank at some point too). At the very least, whilst thinking about a bigger tank, you need to add some more hiding places in the current tank (caves made from bogwood, slate etc) as clowns prefer dim lighting and they like to hide away during daylight hours. You also need a much higher flow rate in the aquarium, which can be quickly achieved by using a powerhead or better still, another filter. Your clown really does need the company of it's own kind, so if you plan on upgrading the tank (with much upgraded filtration), you could probably add a couple of smaller specimens to keep your current lone fish company whilst you get the new bigger tank set-up matured. Please don't leave it on it's own and in such a small tank for too long though - you will be rewarded with so much enjoyment if you provide the clown with the correct conditions that it deserves.

Good luck,

Emma

[Derfel]

thanks emma,

getting a larger tank really is out of the question short-term so I guess I should look at rehoming. Do you know if a decent fish stockist with a quarantine system for new fish would accept a 2nd hand fish or is my only option finding a private collector. I'm in Bristol (UK) if anyone nearby is reading this!

[Tiny]

Tiny, please read the linked profile above. With respect, you are talking complete rubbish.



Martin.

well i had my 3 clowns for over a year now and they have grown since i got them but not really massively big so i was just talking from my own experience.


maybe each clown loach varies on how big they can grow

[Mark in Vancouver]

No. Clown loaches will grow to a large size, regardless. These fish live as long as 40 years in the right environment. While keeping them in a smaller tank may stunt their natural growth potential in the short term (which I consider cruel), the greater concern has to do with their social nature. They need companionship of their own kind.

The loach in this thread will potentially live for many, many more years if it ends up in a larger tank with some other clown companions.

[angelfish83]

well i had my 3 clowns for over a year now and they have grown since i got them but not really massively big so i was just talking from my own experience.


maybe each clown loach varies on how big they can grow

No. You just give bad advice, and I, and everyone else, would appreciate it if you accepted the fact that you are in no position to give advice as you are obviously a very green noob.

Would you give someone advice on a car you knew nothing about? No. So don't do it with fish.

Clown loaches take a very long time- up to a decade in some cases, to go from an egg to their absolute max size.

I have yet to see you give constructive advice or make a practical comment. Im sorry- its true. Please sit back and learn. Ask questions but remember you are in no position to give answers. Every time you make a post that becomes more obvious. Please stop. You don't know enough yet to tell people what they should do- based on your experience, based on whatever. You're too green. Stop.

Go look for Emmas 'Marge' video she posted somewhere. That clown loach is so long and so fat that I don't even know if you could insert her into your aquarium, let alone have her turn around.

[Derfel]

update:

just spoke to my local stockist and they will gladly rehome fish, and particularly a clown loach should be no problem for them.

[Emma Turner]

That's great news, you've done the right thing. When you catch the fish out of the tank, be aware that they have sharp spines concealed beneath the eyes which they can erect when they feel threatened. If you net the fish out without too much stress, you should be fine. If for some reason, the spines get stuck in the net, hold the net material taught, and the fish should free itself. Make sure you transport the fish in either a plastic container or else double - or triple - bagged with proper fish bags, which you can get from the store you are taking the fish to. Clown loaches can easily puncture a single bag.

Emma

[Tiny]

well i had my 3 clowns for over a year now and they have grown since i got them but not really massively big so i was just talking from my own experience.


maybe each clown loach varies on how big they can grow

No. You just give bad advice, and I, and everyone else, would appreciate it if you accepted the fact that you are in no position to give advice as you are obviously a very green noob.

Would you give someone advice on a car you knew nothing about? No. So don't do it with fish.

Clown loaches take a very long time- up to a decade in some cases, to go from an egg to their absolute max size.

I have yet to see you give constructive advice or make a practical comment. Im sorry- its true. Please sit back and learn. Ask questions but remember you are in no position to give answers. Every time you make a post that becomes more obvious. Please stop. You don't know enough yet to tell people what they should do- based on your experience, based on whatever. You're too green. Stop.

Go look for Emmas 'Marge' video she posted somewhere. That clown loach is so long and so fat that I don't even know if you could insert her into your aquarium, let alone have her turn around.

I cannot believe how rude and arrogant some people on this board are. The people on another message board which i post on (which is non-fish related), are much more friendlier.

This is a message board anyway, where people are entitled to give their own opinions. And like i said before, i was just talking from my own experience. i do understand though that i was wrong on what i said earlier after reading that article posted above.