Clown Loaches now 27 years old

[redshark1]

Happy New Year!

Obo is male, six inches long and 27 years old.


https://imgur.com/12PbNRi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G37dKk9 ... rRedshark1

Obo is the first Clown Loach I purchased in January 1995 as a yearling. I rang to check that Clown Loaches were in stock and was going to purchase a whole group. However, their relatively dull colouration put me off so I just purchased one. I then found more typically coloured fish and purchased the rest of my group in other shops during the same month.

I believe that Obo originates from Sumatra where Clown Loaches are typically paler. My other Clown Loaches are likely to originate from Kalimantan.

I have now met many owners of Large and Old Clown Loaches on Facebook at Clown Loach Fanatics.

Many fish have changed ownership and so their true age is unknown, but some do have a history so we can be sure of their age.

[NancyD]

Happy birthday to Obo, Athina & all your clowns!

[redshark1]

Obo and the gang say thankyou to Nancy and have a great 2021.

[Loachloach]

Happy New Year reshark1!!!

I actually just remembered to log in to check out if you posted a new thread because I remembered you do one every January

Congratulations!!! Wonderful update.

Let this thread be a regular for many more years to come.

All the Best.

[redshark1]

Hi Loachloach, good to hear from you I was awaiting your reply!

I remember when I joined Loaches Online I was aiming for 20 years of age for my Clown Loaches, now I am aiming for 30! Why not?!! I am doing it the same outmoded (undergravel filter) and boring way (nothing much changes) as always!

I also thought it was time for Obo to be in the spotlight because he was my first Clown Loach of the group. I thought I would lose him as he was quite skinny but he found a way to survive. He was always out searching for food and learned to steal food from my Sailfin Pleco which I fed by sticking food to the glass in one top corner of the aquarium. Very resourceful fish.

I've been very blown away by the bigger and massively filtered setups on Clown Loach Fanatics and have also been feeling more down to earth with my simpler setup. These tanks I speak of have Clown Loaches swimming in large groups left and right almost constantly it seems.

However, I have made a couple of important observations. I think it good that mine have a retreat to rest and hide in. I see them twice a day when I feed them and they do not need to be constantly on display for me. There is something special about them coming out only at certain times for me.

Also, people with these highly populated tanks seem to have problems such as crashes and fish dying off and I am not sure their fish typically live for decades. I hope to be wrong but have my doubts. Somebody today, with an amazing setup, is having problems with 250 ppm nitrate. Mine is always 20 ppm or under. Maybe you could keep such densities of Clown Loaches with a constant supply of low nitrate water and an overflow, but in a closed system high nitrates could be a problem.

[Loachloach]

Hey redshark1.

I agree with you. Water quality and low fish density is more important, especially if the fish have adequate room to swim at the same time.
One gets a massive tank and then overstocks with huge fish...The effect of the extra space does not go towards fish health...

Keeping fish alive for 30 years is not a coincidence. Enjoy!

My clown loach pond is relatively low stocked for the water volume and I intend to keep it that way. I have to say mine are out a lot of the time but the tank is overshadowed with plants on top, does not have bright lights, and the clowns too have a big pipe and driftwood around where they like to hang out.

Here is the latest video I took of mine but it came out quite blurry unfortunately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOgMNc6vl6c

[Cockroach]

Well done for caring for that loach for THAT long.
If you don't mind me asking, why has it only remained 6" after so many years? I was under the impression they grew slowly but kept on growing.

Here's hoping my guys last as long as Obo.

[redshark1]

It has only reached 6 inches in length because it is a genetically small individual. Small individuals exist within most species.

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Hi Redshark, do you believe the 15cm male is genetically small for a male? I'm aware males are smaller than females, but I'm not sure whether 15cm compared to 20-30cm is the average size difference or a genetically small size difference.

[redshark1]

I can address your first sentence. It is small for a male. It is significantly smaller than my other 3 males which measure 20cm / 8 inches.

I don't understand your second sentence. My apologies.

[loachlover4482]

27 years old! Wow. Your loach is even older than I am. How cool is that? This is one lucky loach you have here. Congratulations

[redshark1]

Thanks I have six all the same age.

They are now 28 years of age.

[kedgerash]

Congratulations, It has really grown up healthy and strong funny shooter 2

[hamfist]

Oooh. I think there's a big birthday coming up soon !

[redshark1]

I hope so.