SecretHaven ........... If you are purchasing small juvies in the 2-3" range, I would recommend adding at least 8. It will be a number of 'years' before you have to be concerned about your fish outgrowing their tank, and larger clown loaches sell very easily. (if for whatever reason you can't upgrade their tank)
While generally speaking this is true, growth rates can tend to vary greatly. I suspect that both social hierarchy & genetics come into play far more than diet. I've seen CL's kept in the same tank for 15 yrs, and fed the same food, and some have simply never been able to get past the 7-8" range, while others purchased at the same time (and size) are in the 12" range. In my own colony I have what appears to be a genetic runt, and while it eats its fair share, and has great color & otherwise seems perfectly healthy, it's growth rate is years behind its tank mates.
While generally speaking this is true, growth rates can tend to vary greatly. I suspect that both social hierarchy & genetics come into play far more than diet. I've seen CL's kept in the same tank for 15 yrs, and fed the same food, and some have simply never been able to get past the 7-8" range, while others purchased at the same time (and size) are in the 12" range. In my own colony I have what appears to be a genetic runt, and while it eats its fair share, and has great color & otherwise seems perfectly healthy, it's growth rate is years behind its tank mates.
