Clown Loach Find

[Cosmic_surfer]

So originally I started out with 6 clown loaches (got em on a deal since a local store owner didn't want me to buy 4 and leave 2) got the whole lot for something like 30 bucks. They seemed to be doing great, but between having a blue crawfish and uncertain but maybe the Oscar may have been responsible) my pack of 6 went down to 4. I was a tad heart broken. I got rid of the oscar and crawfish, and the deaths ceased. I got a baby to bring their numbers to 5, they seemed to be happier having a youngster, but then the ornate bichir decided it was food, and ate the youngster. For the past year it has been 4 loaches.

Then yesterday, I was looking for a rainbow shark at a local petco, as I was looking through the stock tank I saw a 4-5 inch monster (not really a monster but dwarfed my loaches) clown in a tank. I learned that he had just been brought in that day to be adopted out. He came with 2 giant 10" goldfish. A clown his size would be completely ignored by the bichirs. I learned he would cost me $15, and I bought him up on the spot. As soon as I got him in the tank he was lonely and just checking out his new environment. I dropped some pellets in and the youngsters came out, he perked right up. And word must have gotten around because all 4 of the original clown loaches came to say hello and they were schooling. Wherever big clown went, the others followed. I feel like I struck gold on that deal since new clowns are like $11 locally.

 

[convict360]

So originally I started out with 6 clown loaches (got em on a deal since a local store owner didn't want me to buy 4 and leave 2) got the whole lot for something like 30 bucks. They seemed to be doing great, but between having a blue crawfish and uncertain but maybe the Oscar may have been responsible) my pack of 6 went down to 4. I was a tad heart broken. I got rid of the oscar and crawfish, and the deaths ceased. I got a baby to bring their numbers to 5, they seemed to be happier having a youngster, but then the ornate bichir decided it was food, and ate the youngster. For the past year it has been 4 loaches.

Then yesterday, I was looking for a rainbow shark at a local petco, as I was looking through the stock tank I saw a 4-5 inch monster (not really a monster but dwarfed my loaches) clown in a tank. I learned that he had just been brought in that day to be adopted out. He came with 2 giant 10" goldfish. A clown his size would be completely ignored by the bichirs. I learned he would cost me $15, and I bought him up on the spot. As soon as I got him in the tank he was lonely and just checking out his new environment. I dropped some pellets in and the youngsters came out, he perked right up. And word must have gotten around because all 4 of the original clown loaches came to say hello and they were schooling. Wherever big clown went, the others followed. I feel like I struck gold on that deal since new clowns are like $11 locally.

Hope it goes well, clowns are truly awesome when they work out OK from transport etc

 

[Chicxulub]

Awesome! I miss my clown loaches. Great fun fish!

 

[slippery slimecoat]

Fantastic deal on the 4-5" clown! Not sure how big your birchirs are now, but be careful with the clowns extremely slow growth rate that your birchirs don't outgrow your 4 smaller clowns and end up with missing clowns again.

 

[Cosmic_surfer]

The bichirs are in the 14 inch range. They ignore the clowns, though I have noticed the extreme slow growth in clowns. When I got the baby loach it was about an inch in length. Same thing happened when I introduced a rtc into the aquarium... ornate bichir started stalking prey. So I chased her away and placed the cat in a breeder net box until it was bigger... then he exploded and bit the tail off of my lima shovel cat (just the fin). Took the red tail cat back to the store after that.

So clowns seem to be at equilibrium with the bichirs. It seems the bichirs have slowed down a bit as well. How long do clown loaches live? Is it close to the 20 years that ghost knifes can live, or the 35+ of the bichirs? The large clown has acclimated well to his new home. In a few weeks I will move the loaches, bichirs, knife, shovel cat to a 125 that I am currently cycling.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

The bichirs are in the 14 inch range. They ignore the clowns, though I have noticed the extreme slow growth in clowns. When I got the baby loach it was about an inch in length. Same thing happened when I introduced a rtc into the aquarium... ornate bichir started stalking prey. So I chased her away and placed the cat in a breeder net box until it was bigger... then he exploded and bit the tail off of my lima shovel cat (just the fin). Took the red tail cat back to the store after that.

So clowns seem to be at equilibrium with the bichirs. It seems the bichirs have slowed down a bit as well. How long do clown loaches live? Is it close to the 20 years that ghost knifes can live, or the 35+ of the bichirs? The large clown has acclimated well to his new home. In a few weeks I will move the loaches, bichirs, knife, shovel cat to a 125 that I am currently cycling.

I've had similar experiences with my bichir/loach combo. Had 8 originally then the smallest of the squad went AWOL (can only blame my fat 12" delhezi for that one...) now they are all in great harmony lol

 

[Kakarot]

Same happened to me with the bichir eating a clown it seems it is a common situation lol
Cosmic surfer can you attach some pictures? How small is your smallest loach right now?

And yes that big loach was an incredible deal, real prize should be like $80

 

[Cosmic_surfer]

Yes I will definitely snap some photos. The smaller loaches are in the 3 inch range, the larger one 4-5 inch. I have noticed since introducing the 5th loach they are definitely more active. They are coming out in groups, it is really a sight to behold.