I've been growing out six clown loaches for years. They're all about 6" now and very active. They're so active in fact that they seem to drive my cichlids bonkers. They're always pushing their way into everyone else's spot and pretty much causing chaos in the tank. Is this your experience too? I've been thinking about selling them, what do you think? Keep or sell?
Clown Loaches-Do they drive your cichlids crazy?
- Thread starter balton777
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Mine were great dithers, between 4-7 inches (im guessing) and were characters. They would sleep on their sides in the middle of the day, not caring about the istlanum pair, neets or any other meanies in the tank with them. I vote for KEEP!
If I get a bigger tank and my Jag is ok with tankmates, I might have to get mine back *cough cough dont be mad sarah cough cough*
If I get a bigger tank and my Jag is ok with tankmates, I might have to get mine back *cough cough dont be mad sarah cough cough*
Clowns get way too big for my taste but I had some smaller loaches 4, 5" that were so hyper that they drove me crazy. The cichlids woud try to swim slowly around and look as majestic as cichlids look and these things would be up their *** non stop. I could safely say they were as annoying to the fish as they were to me. I switched to corys and all is well in cichlidville.
I vote keep.
Adds movement in the tank.
Also, wanted to ask how are they causing chaos? My loaches go into my cichlids spots as well (because they cruise the tank like they own it) but my cichlids don't seem to mind.
I really enjoy having them in a tank.
Adds movement in the tank.
Also, wanted to ask how are they causing chaos? My loaches go into my cichlids spots as well (because they cruise the tank like they own it) but my cichlids don't seem to mind.
I really enjoy having them in a tank.
My clowns (from 1.5-5") pretty much leave my cichlids alone, but there is one that always bothers my senegal bichir. During feeding my bichir gets pushy trying to nose his way between fish for some krill but the loaches dont put up with it and will chase him around the tank lol. It looks like theyre getting a piggy back ride as they just keep at his back and swim around with him very quickly
They cause chaos by always being on the move. They don't care if the cichlids are sitting around relaxing, they'll swarm all over it and make it move somewhere else...then they'll drive it crazy over there lol. The smaller cichlids that try to hide in the wood are pushed out as the loaches squeeze in. I like how Aquanero put it, the cichlids can't swim around majestically. The Clowns were awesome when smaller, now they seem to dominate the tank.
Mine used to drive my festae pair mad, but then again there was 30 of them from 3" to 8"+!! (210g tank with a 180x75cm footprint).
I'd say keep them, I wish I'd kept ~6-8 of the medium sized ones, adds more activity to the tank. My festae pair turned into recluses after the loaches were removed, initially I thought it was from the stress of me turning the tank upside down for over half an hour trying to catch them all, but that was a couple of months ago now and they're still terrified of me.
I'd say keep them, I wish I'd kept ~6-8 of the medium sized ones, adds more activity to the tank. My festae pair turned into recluses after the loaches were removed, initially I thought it was from the stress of me turning the tank upside down for over half an hour trying to catch them all, but that was a couple of months ago now and they're still terrified of me.
Not at all, I have 6 and they're the best dither there is. They're always the first to try out new food and come to the surface to investigate, the cichlids follow them. they're too funny ... sometimes getting inside the net when I'm trying to catch other fish lol. I've sucked the smaller ones several times with the hose when doing water changes cuz they try to get inside 
They also grow big enough not to be eaten or bullied by big cichlids, and bring a lot of color and movement to the tank.
Mine sometimes start following the salvini and "feeling em" with their barbels, but the fish don't mind. I would never get rid of em, even though the little ****ers punched holes on ALL the leaves of 2 18" high amazon swords.
EDIT: my biggest loach is around 5-6" tho. I can see how they could become a problem when they start reaching 10" and up.
They also grow big enough not to be eaten or bullied by big cichlids, and bring a lot of color and movement to the tank.
Mine sometimes start following the salvini and "feeling em" with their barbels, but the fish don't mind. I would never get rid of em, even though the little ****ers punched holes on ALL the leaves of 2 18" high amazon swords.
EDIT: my biggest loach is around 5-6" tho. I can see how they could become a problem when they start reaching 10" and up.