Clown Loach tankmates?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

SteveR

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 1, 2008
1,359
10
38
Scotland
Hi guys, back from a long absence. I had to sell my tank to move to a new house far far away and my precious loaches. I am wanting to get back in the game, what would you say are ideal fish to be tank mates with clown loaches? I am looking at a species tank, optimized for loaches really but want some mid water shoaling fish that are small (tetra size) to keep the clowns happy and their nerves down.

What is the deal on tetras - neon specifically? I am looking to keep the tank at around 27 degrees some people argue tetras are bad but is this really the case?

Thanks
 
I'd think neons could potentially become a snack for large loaches. I've kept silver dollars with mine in the past, and currently have filament barbs. Both work well. Rosline barbs, congo tetras, and all sorts of rainbow fish are other options as well.
 
anything that either A. the loaches can't fit in their mouths which are super small or B. anything that can't fit the loaches in its mouth make great tankmates haha. My loaches get along with everyone in their tank, which has polys, brown knives, bush fish, odoe pike, catfish etc etc lol
 
I would think full grown neons would be right near the food/friend line for larger loaches, and I'm talking like 5-7"+. Giant danios would be a great shoaling fish I think.
 
i was going to suggest this but aren't those little SOB's mean? haha I've never kept a shoal of them I've only heard.

I've always found that once you reach above numbers of 10, my barbs don't even look at other fish; they just wind each other up and liplock each other lol.

I probably still wouldn't tempt a large shoal with long finned fish such as angels, but I've kept clowns with them in the past; and they're both playful and take to hanging around each other :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: AlG
I've always found that once you reach above numbers of 10, my barbs don't even look at other fish; they just wind each other up and liplock each other lol.

I probably still wouldn't tempt a large shoal with long finned fish such as angels, but I've kept clowns with them in the past; and they're both playful and take to hanging around each other :)
haha that's pretty cool, they are neat lookin' little fish
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com