Modesta&Clowns

[toehead11183]

I have 4 clown loaches in my tanganykin tank. everyone lives in harmony. i saw a B. modesta at the LFS. I want it! but i do not want to sacrifice the rest of the tank and i dont want to try to catch a 2" loach ina 6' tank. anyone have experience with mixing these?

 

[Blub Blub]

I have four of them in my 55 gal. they seem to only be agressive with extremely small or slow fish, or each other. I have three gourami in the tank, and the botai's never bother them except for brief territorial chases. I think they would be fine with clowns and most cichlids.

Trying to catch one in a 6' tank would be next to impossible I would imagine.

 

[ewurm]

I had to move my modesta, he was chasing my smaller Clown Loaches.

 

[Hoplosternum]

I have kept Clowns with Modestas for about two and a half years. No serious fighting.

But at similar sizes a Modesta will boss a Clown. They are a lot more aggressive IME and from their record. They are also far more nocturnal than Clowns and assuming you have plenty of cover don't expect to see them much except a little around feeding time. Clowns will hide away as well but they are active some of the time in the day and far less skittish IME, especially in groups and once they get to know you.

But I would not worry about the Clowns being seriously hurt by the Modesta. It is likely to take the best hideing place and thats about it. I would not trust a Modesta with slow moving / peaceful / small fish, they have a mean streak.

If you have a Synodontis Cat (you've got a Tanganikan Tank after all) I'd be slightly concerned for him. The Modesta will compete for the same cave and they are quite likely to fight. Loaches have spines and while a Syno is a tough customer he has no armour to protect him from nasty spine gauges that the Modesta is far more likely to deliver than your Clowns. Even my Doras get pushed out of their crevices in the bogwood by my Modestas. But the Clowns should be fine and the Cichlids (like you) will hardly see him