Setting up my first Clown Loach tank.

[Loach n00b]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum, and after looking through a couple topics, I have found ome but not all the info I need. I had a 10 gallon tank acouple years back with some neon tetras and a clown loach. I have recently moved and the fish had been passed on to a friend before that. I was at the local Petsmart (I live in Canada, its a pet store ) and was looking at the fish they had. I instantly loved clown loaches again, and now want to start a new tank. So I am asking for any advice you can give, and treat me as a complete beginner, because I have forgotten much.

Basicaly, I would like to have a tank with 3-4 Clown loaches in it, and though I have asked for general info, there are a few questions I really would like to have answers to. But before you answer I would like to mention I am an 18 yr old saving for school, so if I seem to be a minimalist, thats the reason.

1) What is the minimum tank size I need for 3-4 clown loaches? (I was told 15 gallon, but after some internet searching, don't believe that anymore)
2) What is the easiest and least expensive tank setup for clown loaches? (As in cost and maintenence)

Any other info that you can give me is GREATLY appreciated. From what kind of food I can feed them, to tank equipment, to other "necessary" fish for the tank. Any tidbit of information is good, as I will be doing much research to see if I can both afford and maintain this project before diving into it.

Thanks again for all your help!

~ The new guy

[ClownLoachSharky]

You should get a 3 or 4 foot to start off in and you can upgrade to a 6 ft eventually.

[bookpage]

Welcome to the forum. Glad you found us. This nay be a good place to start: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/cl ... cracanthus

from the article:

Adults will eventually require an aquarium measuring at least 6’ x 2’ x 2’. Even small specimens of this species must initially be housed in an aquarium that is 4ft long as a minimum. Anything smaller can cause these fast-swimming fish to become stunted and stressed.

Given your situation of saving for school, I would recommend that you choose some of the smaller loaches to start with and also recommend at least a 40 gallon tank.

You might also consider Dwarf Chain Loach or Rosy Loach for a 15 or 20 gallon tank.

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/ya ... idthimunki
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/tu ... rakanensis

This thread may be of help: http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22525

Good luck...

[redshark1]

Cool that you found us and are prepared to ask.

It's worth having something to aim for, even if you cannot achieve it yet.

I waited a long time for my Clown Loach aquarium since I first wanted it 20 years before. I kept different fish in smaller tanks before then.

I would aim for 6 -10 Clown Loach in nothing smaller than a six foot tank.

For a cheap and effective filtration set up (and Clown Loach pics) see my thread:

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22917

Best wishes,
Steve.

[Loach n00b]

Thanks everyone for the responses thus far! I appreciate all the help and have learned much! But I feel, through reading your responses, that clown loaches are not the easiest loach to care for, nor are they the best to "start" with. Is this true or is a beginner like me OK starting off with clown loaches?

Again, thanks everyone for the help, I appreciate it greatly!

[bookpage]

Part of caring for clown loaches is giving them the room/space that they need in order live as long as they can. Along with than is the right kind of food and water conditions.

You can start keeping clowns right now, if you give them what they need. And they need more than a 20-55 gallon tank. Minimum size of tank for first few years is a four foot tank (75 gal). Then upgrade to a six foot and then upgrade to a 8-10 foot tank.

[Loach n00b]

So what are the right kind of foods to feed them? I've heard that you can feed them cucumbers from time to time along with sinking pellets and such. And as for water conditions, im assuming that its water at a certain temperature and Ph level. I've also seen that you need some sort of machinery to create a current in the tank for the fish.

So are there special filters for these kind of aquarium setups or is it just the bigger the tank the bigger the filter sort of thing? And what might I be looking for to create a current in the tank?

I know these questions are quite "nooby" but I really appreciate the time you are all taking to help me out. Thanks again!

[bookpage]

From the page I have ask you to read: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/cl ... cracanthus

Feeding: Defrosted frozen bloodworms, white mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, etc; chopped prawns are appreciated by larger fish; manufactured sinking wafers (algae, carnivore wafers...), fresh or blanched vegetables such as cucumber, zuchinni, lightly boiled peas. Other keepers have had success with foods such as watermelon and banana, quality flake food. Will enjoy nibbling at soft or fine leaved aquatic plants.

Water parameters: pH 6.5 - 7.0, Hardness: aim for softer water, Maximum DH: 12

Temperature: 78ºF to 83ºF (25-30°C)


The first and most important question you have to answer is; "Am I going to be able to buy (or get) at least a 75 gallon tank?"

If the answer is no, then you should be thinking about other types of loaches or other types of fish for the size tank you are going to buy.

Do a search on Google or on this forum for Chromobotia macracanthus, if the answer to above question is yes.

[Jaguar]

Another thing you need to ask yourself is: Are you willing to spend the next 40 - 50 years looking after the Clown Loaches and doing bi-weekly water changes of at least 25% without fail, as this is how long they can live. As others have mentioned you are better off starting with a 72" x 24" x 24" tank and don't bother with anything smaller as starting up a new tank and moving the fish across is fairly stressful and can cause illness if not done properly.