wild caught vs. domestic clown loaches

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I C Mud

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 16, 2014
128
2
18
Winnipeg
One of our lfs stores is now selling domestic clown loaches. Tank reared and raised. I have never seen this before. They look extremely outgoing and seem much healthier at a young size. Anyone have experience with domestic bred loaches
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I've always heard that they're all wild caught..i hope they are being tank raised to save wild stocks..Not sure how the wild stocks have been able to maintain healthy numbers with the huge numbers that get exported..Great news!
 
I find it is almost best to buy fish bred in captivity usually a lot easier to feed what you like and are less likely to have disease or parasites but that's just my opinion
 
I couldn't believe they had domestic loaches either and I questioned if they came from his fish farm in florida , they did not. I of course mentioned hormones would have be part of it, and this was confirmed. So good news for the wild caught populations. I think I may have to get another tank and set up the domestic loaches to find out for myself. The came up to the front of the tanks in swarms looking for their next meal, and were active and appeared really healthy and not shy at all.
 
I know they're already being bred in Asia, especially Thailand. But not the easiest of fish to breed. Usual need a few large adults living together. Also do better in pond rather than tanks for breeding.


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Most likely all clowns you see in your LFS are hormonally breed. Usually stock from wild are of indiduals that are at least 3" or bigger, since bigger guys ship better.
 
Most likely all clowns you see in your LFS are hormonally breed. Usually stock from wild are of indiduals that are at least 3" or bigger, since bigger guys ship better.

Absolutely. Hormones were used. It is quite the process, but if it can keep the loaches in the wild and the quality, lifespan, and crazy antics we expect from the cl remain the same I'm on board.
 
Which LFS was selling these in Winnipeg, and are they still getting them or was that a one time thing?

Some of you might be interested in reading the following past discussion, where I have a pic of some domestic CL's bred in FL, and sold locally. Most of them died before they were sold, but it was a Petland store so no big surprise.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/clown-loach-breeding-and-export-study.175030/

If you read that thread you will find that there is no one breeding these on a large scale basis (in the world), not even with hormones. It's simply not cost effective.
 
It was Afishionados, he now posts his fish lists with the loaches usually listed as domestic instead of wild caught. He has them a couple of times a year, but none currently. I can let you know as soon as he has them in again or you can look at the online fish list. I don't believe he has anything to gain by misleading anyone as most people prefer wc to domestic.
 
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