Ugly ducklings!

[jjohnwm]

Clown loaches can retain their color when they get large (as in 20+ cm). For example: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/large-clown-loach-9”.721410/

Pretty sure the males retain it while the females get washed out.

On the other hand, for my 2 cents, I personally consider washed out clown loaches special enough for the washing out to not matter (as in the example of the lungfish). That's proof of how long they've lived.

Will males even reach a foot in length?

But, whatever, I understand...I loved my Great Dane even while picking up those pinched-off logs...

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

I used to think not. But they might be able to, basing on the surprisingly large number of large clown loaches that retain their color.

One of the best examples:

Largest Clown Loach I Ever Seen!!!

Now that is a monster!

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[esoxlucius]

Really?

Ever seen a "sacred clown loach" when it's around a foot long? They look like a Great Dane poop at that point.

Whether huge clown loach fade or not would never put me off keeping this species, unlike the distochodus!

Huge clowns are revered, they're like the holy grail of fishkeeping. I'd absolutely love to have a few 12" clown loach, no matter whether they looked like a lump of dog crap or not! Lol.

That's quite a strange analogy actually, have you been on the vodka by any chance, lol.

 

[PhishMon84]

Whether huge clown loach fade or not would never put me off keeping this species, unlike the distochodus!

Huge clowns are revered, they're like the holy grail of fishkeeping. I'd absolutely love to have a few 12" clown loach, no matter whether they looked like a lump of dog crap or not! Lol.

That's quite a strange analogy actually, have you been on the vodka by any chance, lol.

I'm with you there!

I do have a preference for oddball patterns, my largest had a dot instead of stripe on the mid body

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Whether huge clown loach fade or not would never put me off keeping this species, unlike the distochodus!

Huge clowns are revered, they're like the holy grail of fishkeeping. I'd absolutely love to have a few 12" clown loach, no matter whether they looked like a lump of dog crap or not! Lol.

That's quite a strange analogy actually, have you been on the vodka by any chance, lol.

There aren't enough emojis on this whole site to demonstrate just how true that is.

 

[SharptoothBass]

 

[Deadeye]

View attachment 1481943View attachment 1481944

Even if the color gets drab they are still neat looking in shape. Wish they kept the colors though…

 

[cmsbthebest]

My 5-6 year old Colombian Tetras:



Only a face that a mother could love

 

[PhishMon84]

My 5-6 year old Colombian Tetras:

View attachment 1481945

Only a face that a mother could love

I love these and cannot wait until my 25 get this size- definitely amongst my favorite small tetras

 

[jjohnwm]

Whether huge clown loach fade or not would never put me off keeping this species, unlike the distochodus!

Huge clowns are revered, they're like the holy grail of fishkeeping. I'd absolutely love to have a few 12" clown loach, no matter whether they looked like a lump of dog crap or not! Lol.

That's quite a strange analogy actually, have you been on the vodka by any chance, lol.

Actually, no...but I did just come in from chiselling giant frozen dog turds out of the snow, so the image was fresh in mind. It's critical they be picked up before they are covered by fresh snow; otherwise, they hide in the white stuff until it melts in the spring, and then turn into titanic piles of brown pudding on the lawn.

And I'll be honest, to me clown loaches are like Asian arowanas, piranhas and many other fish that seem to enjoy a "cult" following; i.e. they're nice, but they're still just fish and no more enticing than many, many other species.

And now...vodka!

...and incidentally...it's a simile, not an analogy...