Oldest and Biggest Clown Loach 24 years and 11.5 inches

[Redshark1]

I've been looking for a forum where there are other Clown Loach keepers. I soon realised that having fish like these (big and old) is a bit special as few people have them. But I'm pleased to have arrived at an active forum that welcomes fellow enthusiasts.

I've only a smallish and simple setup but have managed to avoid disasters and have put the effort in to provide regular care for my fish. I now have something to show for it.

When I started in Jan 2005 with fish that were a year old I was advised to get a 3ft tank. I was wanting something bigger and purchased my 110 gallon 6' x 18" x 18" aquarium that is now rightly considered the bare minimum size.

My approach has been to simplify things as much as possible and build in fail-safe features such as two heaters and all the filtration inside the tank to reduce the chances of flooding and losing my fish.

My fish have given me a lot of pleasure.

I still look after two aquaria at my local primary school even though my kids left there 15 years ago!

 

[Yoimbrian]

Great work!!

Any videos? Are they still active at that age?

Also, do you mean 14 years old, instead of 24? Your dates don't line up, unless you bought 10 year old fish...

 

[Bertie07]

Your tank looks great and those loaches are amazing, how many are there and are there any other fish

 

[Redshark1]

Yep, it should read 1995, apologies my bad.

I have six Clown Loaches, 2 females and 4 males. All get on amazingly well. There was continual competition between the 2 females up until they were twenty years old when Anthia got the upper hand and then grew larger than Tiama. They have always been good friends though and after a test of strength rest next to each other.

There has been lots of spawning-type behaviour but no eggs have ever appeared.

They have not changed their activity much in the last decade even though their patterns have aged a bit.

The dithers are a Red-tailed Black Shark and Congo Tetras.

A Common Plecostomus takes care of excess algae and there are a few Bristlenose Catfish which failed to do a good enough job.

 

[RD.]

Good to see you posting here, I recognize your userID and loaches from the LOL forum.

 

[tlindsey]

I've been looking for a forum where there are other Clown Loach keepers. I soon realised that having fish like these (big and old) is a bit special as few people have them. But I'm pleased to have arrived at an active forum that welcomes fellow enthusiasts.

I've only a smallish and simple setup but have managed to avoid disasters and have put the effort in to provide regular care for my fish. I now have something to show for it.

When I started in Jan 2005 with fish that were a year old I was advised to get a 3ft tank. I was wanting something bigger and purchased my 110 gallon 6' x 18" x 18" aquarium that is now rightly considered the bare minimum size.

My approach has been to simplify things as much as possible and build in fail-safe features such as two heaters and all the filtration inside the tank to reduce the chances of flooding and losing my fish.

My fish have given me a lot of pleasure.

I still look after two aquaria at my local primary school even though my kids left there 15 years ago!

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Great job raising your CL's.

 

[hpham]

Impressive...video please

 

[smjack]

Yes he does get around quite well. What do you feed your monsters I feed raw tilapia. Hi protein pellet and veggies. BTW I have tried to cook diy mix a couple of times. Argh

 

[David R]

Beautiful loaches!!

 

[Warborg]

Wow! Impressive.