Monster Clown Loach tank: Success with dithers!

[amesbien]

i put a small CL in with my african cichlids and he shoals with them, if he isnt competing with them for food hes swimming about in and out of caves, never hides and the cichlids never bother him.

 

[ewurm]

I don't think I have ever seen a fish bother a clown loach.

 

[H3D]

How many clown loach could i put in a 50gal?

I would say at least a dozen juveniles.

Define juvenile clown loach.

 

[ewurm]

I consider a Juvenile 1-3".

 

[rallysman]

Define juvenile clown loach.

Main Entry: 1ju·ve·nile
Pronunciation: 'jü-v&-"nI(-&)l, -n&l
Function: adjective
Etymology: French or Latin; French juvénile, from Latin juvenilis, from juvenis young person -- more at YOUNG
1 a : physiologically immature or undeveloped : YOUNG b : derived from sources within the earth and coming to the surface for the first time -- used especially of water and gas
2 : of, relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for children or young people <juvenile books>
3 : reflecting psychological or intellectual immaturity :

 

[H3D]

Very funny rallysman! The reason I asked was that most consider clown loaches to be juveniles till they reach 6+ inches.

 

[ewurm]

Technically, they are sexually immature until they are 6" and probably larger, but for the purpose of stocking I say 1-3".

 

[H3D]

Technically, they are sexually immature until they are 6" and probably larger, but for the purpose of stocking I say 1-3".

It does not make sense to use that notion for the purposes of socking as they should reach 4-5 inches in less than a year.

 

[ewurm]

I don't think I have ever seen clowns reach 4-5" in a year. I have a trio I purchased a year ago in my 37, and they aren't much more than 2.5". They are definitely well fed. I wish they would grow that fast. We'll see what happens now that I am feeding them eggs.

 

[is300zx]

I don't think I have ever seen clowns reach 4-5" in a year.

It's possible if you start with a 3" clown. A 1" growth in less than a year is not totally impossible. I have one that did this and it was the most aggressive eater out of all the ones I own so consequently grew the fastest. But the majority of my clowns grow at a slower rate though. Probably 1" or less in a year.