A few Clown Loach questions

[AnnieC]

Alright, I have a few questions about my clowns that I keep getting different info on when I read and research on them, so I thought I would ask here, in hopes that people with experience with them can answer them. All my clowns are between 1 1/4" and 2 1/4". I have had them about a month now, and researched them for a while before I got them. I have 5 currently, and in a 37 gallon tank, there are also 3 Australian Rainbowfish in there. I plan to upgrade them to a 75 gallon. Once we upgrade, I also plan on adding 3-6 more Rainbowfish, and few more Clowns. Will it be ok to add to the school like that? I know that CL's take forever to grow, so they shouldn't be too much larger than new ones at that time will they, and if so, it is ok to add significantly smaller Clown loaches to a school?

My next question is, we currently feed them Omega One Super Color fish food, Omega One shrimp pellets, Omega One Veggie Rounds, and every other day they get some (thawed) frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp. Occasionally I also bring snails home from work because our snails breed like crazy, so we always have itty bitty little guys that they let me just bring home. Are these snails a good thing to keep as part of their diet? Would it be a good idea to have a snail breeding tank to give them baby snails regularly? I plan on moving in a month (I have questions about that, too, I plan on asking closer to the date) and will no longer be working where I can get the free little snails anymore. Also, is there anything else I should add (or remove) from their diet?

My final question for now is that sometimes I notice my little guys will get a little pale/lighten up in color, but then they go back to their normal color. Usually around the time I feed them. Is this normal, or is there a reason for it?

I have not had any problems with disease or anything with them, so I must be doing something right I do like to keep a bottle of Rid-Ich on hand, too, just in case. This says it is safe for scale-less fish like loaches. If anyone has any other suggestions or anything, just let me know.

Also, for your viewing pleasure, I have attached a few photos of my fish, if anyone has any suggestions on taking good photos of the fish, let me know, I have a Cannon Rebel DSLR camera (got it to take photos of my dogs, I also show ADBA APBTs)

 

[chengwang114]

I had about 20 CL in a 90G until they were 5 -7 inch. They are in my 180G now. A 4 feet long 75G tank should be fine for 10 CL for a while (3-4 years) before you need to upgrade to a 6 feet tank. Rainbow fishes are good dither fish for loaches.

I used to feed Omega One flakes and shrimp pellets as main diet, but switched to New Life Spectrum 1mm and Hikari massivore pellets. CL always like frozen bloodworms as treats of course.

It's perfectly normal for the alpha CL to show dominance by greying out during feeding time. As a matter of fact, it's a good sign as it indicates your CLs are settling in and happy. Keep an eye on the ones that grey out, they will grow much faster/bigger than others.

 

[AnnieC]

awesome, thanks! I do plan on getting a 125 eventually, that might even be the tank I do get in a few months, it's either that or a 75. My CL's have also been clicking a lot, it is fun to listen to them. I already like them a lot more than I thought I would (I already knew I would like them, lol) My next tank will also be more set up for them specifically, too. I plan on using sand instead of gravel, and have more "caves" for them. I plan on getting some of the rocks with holes and stuff for them, they seem to really like the decoration I have in this tank a lot, and swim through and around it all the time. Sometimes even just resting on top of it, lol. They are fun fish!

 

[Sonny503]

I moved my 21 clown loaches from a square 120 to a wide 72X18X20, and they are much happier. As for schooling the bigger school the better. good idea to have rid-ich around, make sure your temp is always constant and is above 82, they love warm water. and don't add fish too often. I recently got hit with hit but is now under control. I hope. nice clowns you have, the 125 would be a good choice. water changes and prime is good. I feed New Life Spectrum 1mm, some flakes here and there, Bloodworms, Mysis shrimps, and sometimes when available earth worms chopped up.

gl

 

[george09]

For sure, u can add to both schools ranbows and clown loaches. With clown loaches the more the merrier, i have 10 in a 29 g tank ranging in size from 2-4 inches. As for the snails as long as u know were they come from so u dont introduce perisites or pesticides into your tank your golden. though clowns love them there not really nessary. Also the colour fading your witnising is normal as clowns start to form there pecking order. that fading has been coined "graying out" and is absolutley normal. hope that helps

 

[AnnieC]

Thank you very much, everyone! This is all good to know!

 

[Kyle_91]

Alright, I have a few questions about my clowns that I keep getting different info on when I read and research on them, so I thought I would ask here, in hopes that people with experience with them can answer them. All my clowns are between 1 1/4" and 2 1/4". I have had them about a month now, and researched them for a while before I got them. I have 5 currently, and in a 37 gallon tank, there are also 3 Australian Rainbowfish in there. I plan to upgrade them to a 75 gallon. Once we upgrade, I also plan on adding 3-6 more Rainbowfish, and few more Clowns. Will it be ok to add to the school like that? I know that CL's take forever to grow, so they shouldn't be too much larger than new ones at that time will they, and if so, it is ok to add significantly smaller Clown loaches to a school?

My next question is, we currently feed them Omega One Super Color fish food, Omega One shrimp pellets, Omega One Veggie Rounds, and every other day they get some (thawed) frozen bloodworms or brine shrimp. Occasionally I also bring snails home from work because our snails breed like crazy, so we always have itty bitty little guys that they let me just bring home. Are these snails a good thing to keep as part of their diet? Would it be a good idea to have a snail breeding tank to give them baby snails regularly? I plan on moving in a month (I have questions about that, too, I plan on asking closer to the date) and will no longer be working where I can get the free little snails anymore. Also, is there anything else I should add (or remove) from their diet?

My final question for now is that sometimes I notice my little guys will get a little pale/lighten up in color, but then they go back to their normal color. Usually around the time I feed them. Is this normal, or is there a reason for it?

I have not had any problems with disease or anything with them, so I must be doing something right I do like to keep a bottle of Rid-Ich on hand, too, just in case. This says it is safe for scale-less fish like loaches. If anyone has any other suggestions or anything, just let me know.

Also, for your viewing pleasure, I have attached a few photos of my fish, if anyone has any suggestions on taking good photos of the fish, let me know, I have a Cannon Rebel DSLR camera (got it to take photos of my dogs, I also show ADBA APBTs)

I've had alot of experience with clown loaches, there great fish to have. Yes it is okay to add to your school of CL's as long as the same size you should be fine.
Im not so sure about feeding them snails, i've personally, never tried it, but the best of luck to ya of you decide to go that route.
And mine loose their color every-so-often too, it's just how they get stressed and different changes day-to-day...
Other than that looks like you have great looking CL's!

 

[Mr_Altepeter]

awesome, thanks! I do plan on getting a 125 eventually, that might even be the tank I do get in a few months, it's either that or a 75. My CL's have also been clicking a lot, it is fun to listen to them. I already like them a lot more than I thought I would (I already knew I would like them, lol) My next tank will also be more set up for them specifically, too. I plan on using sand instead of gravel, and have more "caves" for them. I plan on getting some of the rocks with holes and stuff for them, they seem to really like the decoration I have in this tank a lot, and swim through and around it all the time. Sometimes even just resting on top of it, lol. They are fun fish!

It is really cool to hear them clicking isn't it!?! I cannot say enough good things about CL's!! When I upgraded my 75G tank to a 220G I only made a few changes to my substrates. I stayed with very smooth "river pebbles" natural brown colors, Sand throughout about 1/4 of the tank bottom and smooth black rock on 1/4 of the tank bottom. IME the pebbles are not bad, as long as they are smooth. The contrasting colors of the sand on one end of the tank and the black rock on the other end of the tank help bring out the CL's colors. They seem to have a lot of fun digging in the gravel looking for snails that are trying to avoid being eaten. The only (minor, and kinda funny) problem with the black/natural rock is that they have decided that they wanted it all mixed together and have been moving pieces back and forth to set up the tank bottom how they want it. I guess I shouldn't complain, they are the ones who hae to live in it....

Guess what I am saying is.....don't just do the sand because you have heard that its the only way to go. Really long winded version....