Keeping a lone Clown Loach. OK?

[Sidrock]

i think whether a single would be ok depends a lot on the other stock in the tank .

Other stock in the tank will be Malawi Cichlids: 3 Dolphins (C. moorii), 3 Yellow Labs, one "German Red" Peacock and a couple of Giraffes (I may add a couple more Yellow Labs and a Sunshine Yellow Peacock but No aggressive Mbuna!) .

(Planned tank size is 4x2x2ft which is about 120 Gal. This is the scheduled "upgrade" for my Malawi stock.)

As there will be no other bottom-dwellers in this tank, I think it should be ok.

-Sid

 

[Bderick67]

Single clown loaches will generally become very aggressive to other fish in the tank or hide most of the time. If it is a good deal get it, in time you can add more for a school. The loach will survive being alone.

I kept 3 in a 4ft 55 for a year. Got them when they were small to keep with my tiger barbs. Maybe I over fed or something because they were almost 8 inches in a year. and I gave them back to the LFS.

Hope you got a good price for your 8" CLs They easily sell for 100 bucks apiece at that size.

 

[SteveR]

Hi Guys,

I have a question:

Can I keep a single Clown Loach in a 4ft tank with other fish (of compatible sizes)?

I am asking because I think most people keep CLs in schools.

I had an opportunity to buy a 5-6" Clown Loach for less than 10 USD. (It was the only piece that size in a batch of 2-3 inchers). I had to pass that offer because I didn't know if I could keep one alone.

So, what do you guys think?

Thanks,
Sid

PS: A few months ago, I lost a 7" BGK (which I had grown out from 4" and was in a cycled tank) after nothing more than a water-change. (I also lost 4-5" Red-Tailed Sharks a few months before that..) I have lot a bit of my confidence with scaleless fish.. I don't want to make any decisions without consulting the experts here on IAH.

why would you only keep one, they aren't that expensive are you joking?

 

[nigaharu]

I kept 3 in a 4ft 55 for a year. Got them when they were small to keep with my tiger barbs. Maybe I over fed or something because they were almost 8 inches in a year. and I gave them back to the LFS.

There must be a secret growth food you fed them throughout the year. Let us in nor the secret to monster clowns!

 

[SteveR]

i call B.S.

So do I, total BS. No way no way! Especially if they aren't flipping genetically modified and healthy...

 

[SteveR]

There must be a secret growth food you fed them throughout the year. Let us in nor the secret to monster clowns!

He's talking BS...don't be so gullable!

 

[Zeetrain]

I had an opportunity to buy a 5-6" Clown Loach for less than 10 USD. (It was the only piece that size in a batch of 2-3 inchers).

Dude I woulda jumped on that offer in a heart beat.

 

[wild bill]

At the price you quoted I'd go back and buy some of the smaller ones too around here a cl that size would bring over twice that much 1.5 inchers are 10 bucks. They don't seem to get picked on much we have 2 inchers in a community tank that contains a 8 inch oscar and they are fine. They are also inthere with 4 4inch cl's I say go for it you will love them.

 

[BuffaloFish]

Old thread, but want to note in case others are reviewing for reference. While keeping a single clown is "do-able," it is not in any way advisable. One clown living happily in a community tank with other fish is a great exception, and is certainly not the rule. Clowns are highly social animals and most feel that keeping a solitary animal is akin to torture. I recommend five as the minimum number to be kept.

IMHO:

1 = torture.
2 = potentially-relentless bullying and in-fighting.
3 = the potential for the ganging up of two loaches on the lowest-ranked loach.
4 = almost there, and you're starting to get close to a nice society.
5 = minimum number to keep, allowing for a good hierarchy with reduced sparring, which is spread out among many loaches when it does occur.

With clowns, and most any botia, it really is the more the merrier.

 

[BBXB]

I'll second that. The best growth I've ever gotten out of a CL was about 3-3.5" in one year.

+1