Loaches Online Forum

One of our chain stores here just got some some of these in from Florida last week. I had read that a couple of farms in Florida were attempting to breed clown loaches (with the use of hormones) and it appears that at least one of them is already supplying fry to the trade. At best the clowns in the photos below are 3/4", by far the smallest loaches that I have ever seen, and at the price they have them listed at I doubt they will be moving very fast. The fish in the tank next to them (barbs) are approx 1 1/2", and they look like giants next to the clown loaches. If you look closely at the second pic you can see the tiny loach down below the cherry barb. The plant in the first pic is just your average fake plant, so use the stem as a guide to their size.

THANK YOU RD for sharing your photographs.

In the U.K. we see many young Clown loach that have been bred in both the Far East and Eastern Europe. Again it appears that hormone stimulation was used in the breeding of their parents.

Regards David

That price is completely ridiculous.

Martin.

that works out around 8 1/2 quid each geezz.

mick

Hi, RD..,

Those are definitely small clowns! When I saw the tag on the tank, I could tell the store is Petland, and wonder where you are from. Then I see you are from Canada. Whereabouts in Canada are you? I live near Saskatoon, and our Petland has similar ridiculous prices. They do have "Half-Price Tuesdays," but the discount only applies to their fish that are under $10. Bummer! Because my store has some beautiful Denisoni Barbs I am interested in, and they charge $58 each for them. At that price, it is a wonder if they ever sell any.

About two weeks ago, I visited one of the other pet stores in the city (locally owned, not a chain) and they as well had some unusually small clowns. They were under 1" for sure. Next time I go, I should ask the owner if they are from the same supplier. I was very tempted to buy them, but that would surely lead to another Large Tank, ad I'm not sure I can afford it at the moment!

Take Care,
thanks for sharing!
soul-hugger

soul hugger, i talk to a lad who keeps/kept corys who lives in saskatoon, he belongs to the fish society there as well, his name is Adam Rivett.
you know him?. if so give him my regards.

mick

Oh c'mon Martin, that's a fair price for baby clowns, isn't it?

soul hugger - I'm in Red Deer AB, and yes, you nailed the chain store.

It's ridiculous to sell clowns at that size. Not surprising for Petland. They bring in some nice fish once in a while, but their prices are completely off the chart.

I should probably watch my P&Q's as I am a supplier for Petland, but let's just say that I think it's fair to state that the vast majority of Petland shoppers won't even understand what the F1 designation stands for.

they won't but we do.

mick

Just got back from a 3 shop visit and saw similar Clown babies for CDN$ 1.99!!!!!!!

Martin.

I guess for those stores a 150% mark up was adequate.

Hello..,

Mick, I'm sorry I do not know your friend, but if I ever meet him, I will surely send him your Best Wishes.

RD, with all the "chain-store bashing" we have going on here, I must say whenever I have bought fish from Petland, the water quality was excellent, and the fish were, and are still, very healthy. With that I have been impressed. If the extra money paid ensures the fish come from a top-quality supplier and goes to their excellent care, perhaps it is worth it.

Martin, you know how the saying goes, about how everything is bigger in Texas? I think that should apply to Ontario, too. To compare our prices over here with yours, would just be unfair!

soul-hugger

soul-hugger

RD. wrote:won't even understand what the F1 designation stands for.

Out of curiosity what does F1 stand for? I live in Sri Lanka and have never walked into a Pet land store.

namal kamalgoda wrote:

RD. wrote:won't even understand what the F1 designation stands for.

Out of curiosity what does F1 stand for? I live in Sri Lanka and have never walked into a Pet land store.

Wild caught fish have a designation of F0. F1 would be first generation of F0 fish which are captive bred.