Loaches Online Forum

I know they EAT plants, but does anyone have any suggestion on plants that are more resistant to a Clown Loach? I have 2 Anubias Nana and while they are doing OK, they have a few holes poked into them, but only a very few... should I stick with Anubias? Are there any other (preferably low light - 1-2 WPG) plants for a Clown Loach tank?

Jade

i think for low light levels, Java fern is unbeatable, anubias has soft leaves that can easily be damaged especially by botia's.

mick

I agree, java fern is a good choice. There's a couple varieties too, needle leaf & windelov (lace). Crypts work for me but my fish are still small.

I've found they don't bother the sword in with them if I give them veggies several times a week.

and I give mine veggies a few times a week and they SHREDDED both my swords... I will look at the java and crypts for now, too...

the cryps they will destroy as they are slow growers.

mick

I must admit i wasn't aware that Clowns were avid plant eaters ?
In my experience some of the Botias are ok with plants ! I used to keep a group of Histrionicas in a tank full of crypts without any problems !

abaigael04 wrote:and I give mine veggies a few times a week and they SHREDDED both my swords... I will look at the java and crypts for now, too...

I find that mine pick at my sword's leaves only when there is something on the leaves. Basically they end up looking like Swiss Cheese...you know...before they die.

I'm getting ready to re-home all my loaches and I'm going to try Java Fern, Java Moss, Egeria densa (which has done ok with them so far), and Onion Plant(Crinum thaianum) in a river tank setup. Anybody have any favorite plants that loaches don't eat that I might like?

Mine were ok with Anubias and Java Fern until they got over the 6" mark and larger ones were also introduced (up to 12"). They seem to get more mischevous and egg each other on to destroy the planted scene when they get bigger. I was having to replace all my motherplants (expensive!) about 4 or 5 times a year because they would destroy them, now I have gone over to the dreaded plastic plants! I have some at the tank which are attached via suckers to the back glass, and they even manage to pull those off.

Emma

They even move the silk type of plants around in my tank. I see them swimming around holding the plants quite often.

I had three attempts at a cryptocorene lawn before I conceded defeat to my clowns. I've found java fern to be the best option (for now, based on Emma's post).

heck ive had kubs tear into dwarf sag, eos take apart vals, crypts last seconds with striatas.
I can't imagine anything lasting long with mature clowns.

Ive seen eos try to bite rocks!

Hi Jade,

I asked the same question a few months back- http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php ... ght=plants

Java fern turned out to be the one they bother the least, but it still has some holes...I wound up removing the Annubius altogether, when they started stripping whole leaves off and uprooted it a few times, just for fun.

Emma's absolutely right- when they are tiny, they don't bother plants...they get a little bigger, the holes start appearing...they get a lot bigger and they turn into positive hooligans.


Kate

The other thing to think about is the other fish you keep in the same tank.

Many Loach keepers like to keep Barbs with their Loaches. Many Barbs are Herbivores.

I have recently added P Nigrofasciatus (Black Ruby Barb). They have shreaded the leaves from my Water Wistera. It probably needs more light anyway.

My Java Fern is OK. I recently found out Java Fern prefers to grow on wood rather than in the substrate. Is anyone else aware of this?

Botia Robert wrote:My Java Fern is OK. I recently found out Java Fern prefers to grow on wood rather than in the substrate. Is anyone else aware of this?

It is mentioned in Peter Hiscock's Encyclopedia of Aquarium Plants http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Aqua ... 321&sr=1-1 I just love this book. It has a ton of great information.

Well ATM they are small - 2.5 inches is the biggest one, so I guess I will enjoy my anubias while I can - and then I will plant them out of water (another NON aquatic plant, from what I've read... that does good in water..) Thanks everyone!