Clown Loach Requirements

The Game

As some of you may know, I like big fish but I havent actually gotten any yet. I looked at oscars, arowanas, bichirs and black ghost knife fish. Now im looking into clown loaches. If I were to get a 6ft tank for them, how many would I be able to keep? How much filtration will I need as well as how often should I do water changes and how much? Any suggestions on aquascaping is also appreciated. I wouldnt be able to keep oscars with these fish in a tank of that size right? Just thought ill ask. Thanks.

1077

Can only speak as to what I would do with the size tank listed.
Six or Seven clown loaches, sand or fine gravel substrate, large pieces of driftwood and smooth river stones,
Filter capable of moving at least 800 gallons per hour and a couple powerheads for additional current that Clown loaches appreciate.
Water changes of 50 percent each week.
Tank mates would perhaps be Columbian tetra's or Congo Tetra's,Cardinal Tetra's, a couple Farlowella or Bristlenose, perhaps some smaller YoYo loaches to join the Clown loaches.
and possibly some floating Penneywort for the surface of the tank to help fishes feel secure/comfortable, as well as absorb nitrates between water changes.

The Game

cool nice info. i heard that some plants like Anubias and Java Fern are quite hardy that they wont get uprooted. not sure if my LFS sells pennywort, will Duckweed work? what should i feed the loaches?

1077

Anubia and Java Fern along with Duckweed would work. attach the anubia and Java Fern to pieces of wood with thread or fishing line until they attach themselves to the wood. I like thread because by the time the roots have attached themselves,the thread is usually disentegrated.
Clown loaches aren't particularly finicky in my expieriences with them. I feed the three that I have a wide variety of foods from spirulina pellets,frozen blood worms,shrimp pellets,Spirulina brine shrimp, color bits,alage wafers,pieces of night crawlers,and assorted flake foods that I mix all together and keep in tuppeware bowl in the fridge. For example..I mix Omega one veggie flakes, Tetra flake, or three in one ,Ocean nutrition flake,cichlid crisps,frezedried shrimp and krill, freezedried plankton,all in one container and I buy the small containers of food so that food does not expire before I need more.

kitten_penang

you do know a 50% water change a week is essential if your filter can't handle that much bio load and thats a lot of water to change each week. a 3 feet sump filled with at least 70% of filter material will help with the bioload in the tank but you have to be ready for quiet a lot of work if ou want that many large fish in there.

aunt kymmie

I agree with EVERYTHING 1077 has posted and can confirm that Yoyos and Clowns are GREAT together. I have a herd of each in a tank together, heavily planted, sand substrate, with lots and lots of driftwood. Driftwood is a MUST. They adore wedging themselves into the nooks and crannies, chasing each other around it, and mine all sleep wedged into the driftwood at night. Denison Barbs also make great tankmates with these loaches.

The Game

Yea I like denison barbs too but they cost too much, so theyre out of the question for me. Ill probs try to have 6 clowns, 7 yoyos and around 20 cardinal tetras. Sounds ok to you?
P.S. Im just planning for a future tank at the moment, got a bit too much on my hands for now.

1077

Sounds fine,just keep in mind that the loaches can adapt to perhaps moderately hard water but the Cardinal Tetra's in my opinion much prefer soft acidic water.
I mentioned the cardinals not knowing what your water chemistry is.