14 replies to this topic

[Red Empress12]

Hi all,

I was just wondering if clown loaches do any were near the job for cleaning as catfish do.
And would you recommend me getting a clown loach/s or not

Thanks,

Red Empress12

[fishking123]

For a display id say yes.. they will clean up some left over food. But they will just pop it out.. id also have a bristlenose. But a few people I know said they don't mix but iv had good results

[ant86]

I have clown loaches in both of my tanks and lm happy with them. l have americans so the food that hits the bottom that the oscars, terrors, jag and texas dont eat the clowns do. but l also have a few bns in each tank to.

Edited by ant86, 12 May 2013 - 08:27 PM.

[Westie]

My clown loach swims around with an mts snail in his mouth sometimes

[Red Empress12]

Thanks,

i am hopping to get 1 or 2 Clown loaches, a Bristle nose catfish and a Pleko as my clean up crew

[Bermont]

when it comes to loaches your better of with groups of 3+ as they are very social fish and need group members otherwise they will constantly hide, they are great for controlling snails tho and are awesome when they play together

[Red Empress12]

Ok I just don't want to over stock my tank and if I get 3 or more clown loaches I am worried that I will be over stocking my tank

[Bermont]

the clown loaches can actually get quite large, if you do want a smaller alternative that will do a similar job, but isnt as colorful but still active you can try yoyo loaches, bout the same price as a clown but dont get anywhere near as big, they still eat snails tho and once again need a group of minimum of 3 or they get really shy and hide

[Red Empress12]

Yeah I know but the loaches will not get any we're there full size in my tank

[Limes]

Yeah I know but the loaches will not get any we're there full size in my tank

Sorry if I read this wrong, but from what I understand from the comment is that the fish will not grow that big in your tank due to them not having the room?

If so, that's not true fish will keep growing regardless of the size, they will be cramped, unhappy...all the un-fun stuff

[ant86]

If they get suck in a small tank.for to long they will be come stunted..

[Bermont]

ive also read that if the tank isnt large enough for them they will try and escape from the tank to find more suitable habitat, i do know i had a small one recovering in a 15L tank and he was NOT happy, found him trying to jump out a few times

[Red Empress12]

Thanks. i have a 160 liter tank

[Morley Aquariums]

Clown loaches are good scavengers, but not an algae eater like plecos etc. i have seen clowns over 30cm, take a long time to get there.
For a smaller tank use the dwarf loach (b. sidthmunki) or even reticulated loach.

Nb; as limes said, tank size does not restrict fish size as ling as the water is kept clean. Age, water quality & amount if food determine size & growth rates, not tank size.

[Westie]

Is the reticulated loach the same thing as a yoyo?