Loaches Online Forum

Hey I plz need some help from the pro's!
I just added 3 new clown loaches to my community tank. They are all three about 8cm each. The rest of my fish are: 2 Oscars (15cm each), 2 Severum Cichlids (10cm each), 1 Firemouth Cichlid (9cm), 2 Pleco's (30cm and 12cm), 1 Synodontis Eupterus (12cm), 1 Polypterus/Cuvier's Bichir (20cm).
I also have one other clown loach that is about 6cm and the Oscars doesn't really try to eat him. But I am still worried because I have lost 3 Clowns before, all because the Oscars chased them and then they became stressed and died.
Will these new clowns be OK because I really can't lose another one because they are really expensive in South Africa. What should I do to prevent them from being stressed and being chased by the Oscars?

I would say if you lost some before you will still probably have the same problem.

Loaches are normally pretty docile fish and probably should not be in a tank with Oscars. IMO.

I don't know anything about oscars but it sound like you should know better!
once burned...

i used to keep and breed oscars yrs ago, although they are'nt nasty as some cichlids are, they are very inquisitive thats the reason why your first lot went.
with the mixed inhabitants you have i would leave the botias alone or get another tank just for them.

mick

What should I do to prevent them from being stressed and being chased by the Oscars?

Remove the Oscars

Diana wrote:

What should I do to prevent them from being stressed and being chased by the Oscars?

Remove the Oscars

I'll second that!