Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.

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redshark1
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Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, Great Britain.

Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.

Post by redshark1 » Sun Jan 01, 2023 3:55 am

Happy New Year to everyone who is still following.

I am still here and so are my Clown Loaches.

What has happened over the past year with my Clown Loaches? Not much but as usual they have benefitted from my constant careful attention. As always I have found some small ways of improving things. In 2022 they needed a replacement 300W heater and 58W T8 light tube, I improved the venturi on the powerheads to maximise oxygenation, they are enjoying the addition of occasional Frozen Cooked Mussels and Fluval Bug Bites to their diet, I am now cleaning the ornaments with hydrogen peroxide rather than glutaraldehyde and I have begun scraping the algae from the back and sides of the glass as well as the front because the fur-like algae was shedding into the water column which didn't look good.

All of them seem healthy. The largest, Anthia, has lost some weight (which may be a sign of old age) but is still very dominant and I fully expect them all to reach 30 years of age this time next year. It doesn't seem long since I was aiming for 20 year old Clown Loaches.

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6 x Clown Loaches all 30 years of age on 01.01.2024, largest 11.5", 2 large females, 4 smaller males, aquarium 6' x 18" x 18" 400 ltr/90 uk gal/110 US gal. approx.

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Icewall42
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Re: Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.

Post by Icewall42 » Fri Jan 06, 2023 4:16 pm

Wow congrats. My one remaining clown loach turns 22 this year. He's got cataracts but otherwise seems in fine shape. He's pretty much had every disease out there.

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redshark1
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Re: Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.

Post by redshark1 » Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:05 am

Hi my Clown Loaches have had no issues at all since coming with whitespot/ich in Jan 1995.
6 x Clown Loaches all 30 years of age on 01.01.2024, largest 11.5", 2 large females, 4 smaller males, aquarium 6' x 18" x 18" 400 ltr/90 uk gal/110 US gal. approx.

NancyD
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Re: Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.

Post by NancyD » Sun Jan 08, 2023 9:51 pm

Happy Birthday to Athina & all your clowns loaches. As always, I wish you & all your clowns a happy new year. I love that you post every year around this time. It makes me glad to see how well your clowns are doing...something we should all aspire to!!
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redshark1
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Re: Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.

Post by redshark1 » Mon Jan 09, 2023 4:05 am

Thanks NancyD.

When I first visited this forum the oldest Clown Loach known here was a lone one called Albert belonging to Mamaschild in San Diego and he died in a heatwave at 17 years of age. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10525

He is pictured on the species page https://www.loaches.com/species-index/c ... cracanthus

This was early inspiration for me when mine were 12 years of age.
6 x Clown Loaches all 30 years of age on 01.01.2024, largest 11.5", 2 large females, 4 smaller males, aquarium 6' x 18" x 18" 400 ltr/90 uk gal/110 US gal. approx.

NancyD
Posts: 1608
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:17 pm
Location: SF bay area,US

Re: Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.

Post by NancyD » Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:29 pm

Yes, there have been a few old clowns after many years on LOL. Basil comes to mind...Albert, & of course Marge... But your Athina might be more! (older) & a few others are the current record holders...for now. I'm always hoping for more! I miss my clowns! But I'll not be setting any records...I'm old & don't have enough time to set any longevity records for loaches. I don't have clowns ATM...But soon? Maybe? 1 last hurrah? Well, maybe not...for me...
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redshark1
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Re: Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.

Post by redshark1 » Tue Jan 17, 2023 2:49 am

Do you know any verified over 29 years of age.

I have six here now today that are 29yo and I know this as I have kept them since they were purchased as yearlings in January 1995.
6 x Clown Loaches all 30 years of age on 01.01.2024, largest 11.5", 2 large females, 4 smaller males, aquarium 6' x 18" x 18" 400 ltr/90 uk gal/110 US gal. approx.

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