Monster Clown Loach tank: Success with dithers!

[ewurm]

I collected up all the various barbs in my tanks, Rosy, Albino Tiger, Odessa, and Glass barbs, and put them in with my Monster loaches. They are much more active, even during the day. This was definitely a good move.

[JD_MAN]

That's awesome. Looks like they are doing good.

I wish that I could find a dither that would make my biggest loach move. He only swims at when the lights go out.

[ewurm]

When I kept mine with my smaller loaches, he hid all the time. I got him a mate, moved them to their own tank, and added the barbs, and things are going well.

[jonahonah]

How many clown loach could i put in a 50gal? was thinking of a group to go with a jd. (this continues a post in cichlids.) thought there may be more loach specialists here though

[rallysman]

Looks awesome Wurm!~

[ewurm]

I would say at least a dozen juveniles.

[rottbo]

I have had problems mixing some barb sp before becareful

[ewurm]

Me too, but I avoided the weakest, like Cherries, and the toughest, like Tigers. I can always move somebody if it doesn't work out.

[Mr Pleco]

I've used giant danios as dithers but even then I'd only see my big loach once a day, every morning he comes to the front of the tank for food, then I don't see him till the next day..he just lays in the cave all day long with my RCK...:nilly:

I'd try anything to see him more..........lets see if barbs can shake it up a little more....

[ewurm]

Try it, Mine swim about the tank all the time. I think they feel safer because they can swim among the fish, rather than having frantic fish swimming above them.

[amesbien]

i put a small CL in with my african cichlids and he shoals with them, if he isnt competing with them for food hes swimming about in and out of caves, never hides and the cichlids never bother him.

[ewurm]

I don't think I have ever seen a fish bother a clown loach.

[H3D]

How many clown loach could i put in a 50gal?
I would say at least a dozen juveniles. Define juvenile clown loach.

[ewurm]

I consider a Juvenile 1-3".

[rallysman]

Define juvenile clown loach.

Main Entry: 1ju·ve·nile
Pronunciation: 'jü-v&-"nI(-&)l, -n&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Latin; French juvénile, from Latin juvenilis, from juvenis young person -- more at YOUNG
1 a : physiologically immature or undeveloped : YOUNG b : derived from sources within the earth and coming to the surface for the first time -- used especially of water and gas
2 : of, relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for children or young people <juvenile books>
3 : reflecting psychological or intellectual immaturity :

[H3D]

Very funny rallysman! :ROFL: The reason I asked was that most consider clown loaches to be juveniles till they reach 6+ inches.

[ewurm]

Technically, they are sexually immature until they are 6" and probably larger, but for the purpose of stocking I say 1-3".

[H3D]

Technically, they are sexually immature until they are 6" and probably larger, but for the purpose of stocking I say 1-3". It does not make sense to use that notion for the purposes of socking as they should reach 4-5 inches in less than a year.

[ewurm]

I don't think I have ever seen clowns reach 4-5" in a year. I have a trio I purchased a year ago in my 37, and they aren't much more than 2.5". They are definitely well fed. I wish they would grow that fast. We'll see what happens now that I am feeding them eggs.

[is300zx]

I don't think I have ever seen clowns reach 4-5" in a year.

It's possible if you start with a 3" clown. A 1" growth in less than a year is not totally impossible. I have one that did this and it was the most aggressive eater out of all the ones I own so consequently grew the fastest. But the majority of my clowns grow at a slower rate though. Probably 1" or less in a year.

[ewurm]

It's possible if you start with a 3" clown. A 1" growth in less than a year is not totally impossible. I have one that did this and it was the most aggressive eater out of all the ones I own so consequently grew the fastest. But the majority of my clowns grow at a slower rate though. Probably 1" or less in a year.

That's basically what I have found too.

[H3D]

I don't think I have ever seen clowns reach 4-5" in a year. I have a trio I purchased a year ago in my 37, and they aren't much more than 2.5". They are definitely well fed. I wish they would grow that fast. We'll see what happens now that I am feeding them eggs. I'm not trying to be critical, but a 37 is just not large enough to promote proper clown loach growth; unless you are doing 50% daily water changes. Even then I'm not certain they will grow due to lack of space. I added a group of three 2" clown loaches to my 90 gallon 2 months ago. One of them is already over 4 inches and the other two are over three. Clowns loaches should be over 4 inches in less than a year, if not there is most likely a problem.

[ewurm]

Is there a reason for this? I understand that some fish secrete growth inhibiting hormones, but I have never heard of clowns reaching that kind of size in a year. Are we talking about head to tail measurement or head to base of tailfin? I need to measure those that I got a year ago.

[H3D]

Is there a reason for this? I understand that some fish secrete growth inhibiting hormones, but I have never heard of clowns reaching that kind of size in a year. Are we talking about head to tail measurement or head to base of tailfin? I need to measure those that I got a year ago. Some believe that hormones may be the cause of slow growth and others believe DOCs to be the growth inhibitors. No one knows for certain. Lack of adequate aquarium space IMO is also growth inhibitor.

I measure total length; head to tail.

[ewurm]

Now that I have that lfs job, I can get them some real space, and a real shoal. They don't actively shoal much with only eight specimens.

[hawaiian style]

I don't think I have ever seen clowns reach 4-5" in a year. I have a trio I purchased a year ago in my 37, and they aren't much more than 2.5". They are definitely well fed. I wish they would grow that fast. We'll see what happens now that I am feeding them eggs.


What kind of eggs?

[SteveR]

What kind of eggs?

Cadbury Creme eggs! :headbang2

[MinnowMagnet]

i could use one of those right about now