clown loach

[grnmtnlwrdr]

hey guys, i did ghave big cichlids but have went tropical untill i get a bigger tank.i have all livebearers and one clown loach.is he a killer?i have had several mollies and guppies dead.i do also have a betta but do not think he is the culprit.he just lays on the bottom for the most part.he kill my dwarf clawed frog also.i do beleive its the loach, he hasnt taken care of the snails, but he sure kills fish...i think.any input?

 

[Lupin]

You have only one loach when loaches are sociable fish. What size is the tank?

 

[JD_MAN]

Yeah, I don't think mollies and guppies are good tankmates for loaches. I believe that mollies need brackish water to thrive and I could see where loaches might snack on or stress out guppies.

...plus like Lupin said you need more clowns to make him feel comfortable.

 

[dthomasi]

I had a small clown loach (~2 in) growing out in my 10 gal with a bunch of mollies and guppies for around 3 weeks before I put him in my main tank. The guppies and mollies had no problems although the hundreds of snails were completely eradicated and the loach always had a big fat belly.

Also, I keep my mollies in straight fresh water, and they are healthy and breeding like rabbits.

 

[JD_MAN]

Also, I keep my mollies in straight fresh water, and they are healthy and breeding like rabbits.

I wasn't too sure about mollies, just thought I had heard that the like a little salinity.

 

[ewurm]

I have heard storeis of singular loaches going predatory on small fish.

 

[grnmtnlwrdr]

i have him in a 55 with like 15 others, mollies platties guppies.betta.i do have a snail problem and got him for that reason but the snails still persist.i think there are just too many.they are trumpet snails.do u think it would be beneficial to get one more or just get rid of him all together?i thought it was my danio doin all the damage but i took him out and still more fish dead.how are clown loaches in general tho, as far as aggressiveness.1 is bad but more than that they calm down?or are they semi aggressive in general, in wich case ill just get rid of him.also any fish does better in some sort of salt.but they are more than happy and healthy in straight fresh water.mollies tho can actually be converted into full salt water.thanks

 

[ewurm]

I don't think loaches do well with smaller fish, especially placid fish. My advice is get more loaches and ditch the livebearers!

 

[dthomasi]

I wasn't too sure about mollies, just thought I had heard that the like a little salinity.

You could be right, I was just sharing my experience. Same with the loach, it was just a single time, and only for a few weeks.

 

[Mystix212]

.also any fish does better in some sort of salt.

Really?

You should never buy a clown loach just to rid the tank of snails. Overpopulation of snails usually stems from overfeeding. Cut back by half for the next 2 weeks and get rid of the clown unless you plan to add 3 more clown loaches.