I feel that all clown loaches have the "hey buddy syndrome" as I've coined it now. They have no regard for other's personal space. If there's a space with another fish in it. The clown loach wants to be in that same spot also. Kinda like when that stranger sits down on the couch next too you, and is a little too friendly and chatty.
So that leads me to the quest of weird tank mates for clowns.
the things I'm taking into consideration.
Tank size. At the moment. I believe the tank will be 6'X2'X16" This is a glass tank with odd dimensions I can get my hands on pretty easily, and will fit my living room nicely. Plenty of floorspace for the clowns, and shallow compared to other tanks with that footprint for aeration.
With only 16 inches of heigth to work with. I'm thinking I pretty much get bottom fish, and either mid or top swimmers.
Bottom Level Canidates
*Clown loaches- For sure, big shoal
Buffalo Head Cichlid- Riverine fish also, worried about territorial space, clowns invading them.
Black Ghost Knife - During the day he'll probably be hiding on the bottom somewhere under something.. Afraid he'll be harassed by a big clown... him having poor eyesite and all.
Mid Level Canidates
Bala sharks - Eat like pigs, large school is nice, skittish
Flagtail Prochilodus - I really want one of these. Seems like a gentle giant.
Iridescent Sharks - group of 5 or so. I think the tank is a little small for it?
Geophagus- Getting a herd of eartheaters is also what I'm considering.
Top Level Canidates
Pink Tailed Chelcius - Almost a more rare bala shark.
Any Level
Royal Pleco
8 inch Common Pleco
12 Otociculous
Plants/Decor
Several Large pieces of Boglog
Anubius Mother plants, like foot tall and wide to attach to boglog.
Flower pots maybe?
natural looking gravel, not much a fan of sand.
I work at a LFS that is not a chain, and has a huge selection of cichlids. We currently have a 250 setup with 13 clowns 5-8 inches, gold severums, and pink tailed chelcius.
Trying to find other fish to consider before setting up this tank/ordering/collecting etc.
As for feeding at home, I loveto keep fresh zuchini in the tank for the plecos/clowns. So fish that would also enjoy this is a perk.
So lets hear the comments. Have you seen something cool done with clowns as tank mates? Seen the horror story I'm about to walk into with a combo of fish etc?
An idea you've dreamed about doing with clowns, but just didnt pan out for you yet?
Lets hear it
So that leads me to the quest of weird tank mates for clowns.
the things I'm taking into consideration.
Tank size. At the moment. I believe the tank will be 6'X2'X16" This is a glass tank with odd dimensions I can get my hands on pretty easily, and will fit my living room nicely. Plenty of floorspace for the clowns, and shallow compared to other tanks with that footprint for aeration.
With only 16 inches of heigth to work with. I'm thinking I pretty much get bottom fish, and either mid or top swimmers.
Bottom Level Canidates
*Clown loaches- For sure, big shoal
Buffalo Head Cichlid- Riverine fish also, worried about territorial space, clowns invading them.
Black Ghost Knife - During the day he'll probably be hiding on the bottom somewhere under something.. Afraid he'll be harassed by a big clown... him having poor eyesite and all.
Mid Level Canidates
Bala sharks - Eat like pigs, large school is nice, skittish
Flagtail Prochilodus - I really want one of these. Seems like a gentle giant.
Iridescent Sharks - group of 5 or so. I think the tank is a little small for it?
Geophagus- Getting a herd of eartheaters is also what I'm considering.
Top Level Canidates
Pink Tailed Chelcius - Almost a more rare bala shark.
Any Level
Royal Pleco
8 inch Common Pleco
12 Otociculous
Plants/Decor
Several Large pieces of Boglog
Anubius Mother plants, like foot tall and wide to attach to boglog.
Flower pots maybe?
natural looking gravel, not much a fan of sand.
I work at a LFS that is not a chain, and has a huge selection of cichlids. We currently have a 250 setup with 13 clowns 5-8 inches, gold severums, and pink tailed chelcius.
Trying to find other fish to consider before setting up this tank/ordering/collecting etc.
As for feeding at home, I loveto keep fresh zuchini in the tank for the plecos/clowns. So fish that would also enjoy this is a perk.
So lets hear the comments. Have you seen something cool done with clowns as tank mates? Seen the horror story I'm about to walk into with a combo of fish etc?
An idea you've dreamed about doing with clowns, but just didnt pan out for you yet?
Lets hear it
