Finnicky61 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I often see Clown Loaches in Cichlid communities.... however I have read that this is a no-no. Was wondering if any Cichlid people had any advice for me? I love both and would love to keep them together, but not if it's the wrong thing to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tootie Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I often see Clown Loaches in Cichlid communities.... however I have read that this is a no-no. Was wondering if any Cichlid people had any advice for me? I love both and would love to keep them together, but not if it's the wrong thing to do. I have 2 clown loaches in my 4ft display tank. I have never had any dramas with them. However, in saying that they have grown up together. I don't know how it would go if you added small clown loaches to a tank with fully grown cichlids in it. It would probably also depend on the type of cichlids you have as some are more aggressive than others. My tank has less aggressive types such as, peacocks, yellows, mbamba etc...... and lots of hiding places. The water parameters have never been an issue and I feed a mixture of different high quality foods so they all eat ok. It will be interesting to hear about others experience. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziad Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I have kept them together before and although the loaches always had nipped fins and did get in the way of the cichlids trying to breed they were fine. I think that if you like them then do it! also the loaches were of different sizes to the cichlids - some bigger some smaller.... all good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOG6ON Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I had a problem with worms in one of my breeding tanks and the only way i got rid of them was put 2 loaches in the tank. Now all of my breeding tanks have either 2 or 3 loachs(all clowns) in them. I have had no problems so far with either the loaches or the cichlids yet! hth. Luke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citypainter Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 If you have Red devils or large Americans probably not. If you have Most of the common Africans. You should have no problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnicky61 Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 Thank you everyone, sounds like I can give it a go. I have had my loaches for a long time, want to see them better in my 6' display tank and hope they will grow even bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D6C1 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Do it mate.. I have kept clown loaches for years in various size tanks with either american or african cichlids and i have had no problems. Currently have around 30 clownloaches of various sizes up to 22cms or so with a 40+cm jardini and 20cm grey gourami, plecos and convicts. No dramas !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat williamson Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 As log as the loaches are settled and not tiny I have kept them without incidient with dempseys, firemouths, medium festae , convicts, large synspilum etc for over 15 years without one incident........touch woood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick86 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 As everyone has said mate you should have absolutely no problems at all. I keep clown loaches with my African Cichlids and have had no dramas. If anything my clown loaches annoy and harrass my cichlids more than the other way round. And clown loaches are a beautiful freshwater fish so I say go for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D6C1 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I have one of the clown loaches that follows or tries to keep trying to "kiss" my jardini.. Jardini doesnt even care! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfishfan Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 clowns are great with almost any ciclids , but i have herd if you are having trouble with breeding some fish and you have clowns , they may be the cause when the ciclids are turning and turning behind each other laying eggs and squirting the milt clowns have been seen to come in and eat the eggs , i have herd people with frontosa have experienced this problem and some malawi keepers as well . i love my clowns so much , i girl freaks out every few months when she sees them lying on their side , and then she remembers that thats there name clowns , just acting normal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnicky61 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Thanks again everyone for all your advice. So apparently the "Cichlid Salt" is not a problem for loaches> I use Seachem Cichlid Lake Salt in the quantities recommended on the jar. I am really excited about transferring my three loaches from my 3 foot tank to my 6 foot this weekend.... any advice on how I can lessen the transfer "shock"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfishfan Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 they are pretty tough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colfish Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 they are pretty tough tough they may be. but beware of PH shock. using seachem salts at the recommended dose should give you a ph in the mid to high 8's what are the clownies swimming in atm?? these guys are also very prone to white spot. take care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfishfan Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 yes forgot about that . go slow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnicky61 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 The PH (when I check it - which I must confess isn't very often) is usually around the 7-7.5. I have not had many casualties in my 2 years of fish keeping. I use a crushed marble substrate and dead rock coral, both of which I believe help keep the water good for Cichlids????? I watch my fish constantly, they are happy, healthy and breeding, so I figure the water must be good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnicky61 Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 I often see Clown Loaches in Cichlid communities.... however I have read that this is a no-no. Was wondering if any Cichlid people had any advice for me? I love both and would love to keep them together, but not if it's the wrong thing to do. Well..... it's done! I moved my 3 loaches today and they are as "Happy as Larry"! they hid behind a rock for about 10 minutes, then came out and started swimming around like they owned the joint! Thanks for your advice guys.... I have been wanting to do this for a while, but scared I would lose my loaches (have had them fo a couple of years) Now I can look forward to them getting really big! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnicky61 Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 Just to let you know, this is what I have in my 6 foot display tank: Alpha Male = Vinustus Red Empress Male - Looks fantastic - Bright Blue and Red 7 Red Empress females (But I think one is colouring up as we speak) 2 Electric Yellow 1 Pleco - Very big 1 Brisle Nose Plus.... 3 very happy Clown Loaches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly Posted March 31, 2009 Share Posted March 31, 2009 Hmmm this thread makes me wonder whether I could have clown loaches too. I love them, but I have always assumed they wouldn't handle the high hardness and pH of my Tang tank - currently I have 5 leleupi in it. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_g_hunter Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Hi All I just last week added 3 clown loaches to my 240ltr malawi tank... day 1: loaches added - swimming around like they owned the tank, very happy fish. day 2: i changed the water - loaches still reasonably happy day 3: loaches still quite active but becoming somewhat shy day 4: loaches barely showing themselves and hiding behind rocks day 5: all 3 loaches quite docile and listless - covered in what look like little air bubbles but was probably white-spot...(im still a beginner) day 6: all 3 loaches pronounced dead at about lunchtime, i found the bodies all clinging to the filter intake. There's obviously a bit more to keeping loaches than what i realised, anyone know what went wrong? Cheers Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat williamson Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 When ever moving clown loaches keep a very close eye out for white spot , it really hammers them and can be difficuilt to get rid of with clowns . Also ensure correct dose as clowns dont have scales therefore approx half dose of white spot medication. I find clowns extremely hardy once settled in to a tank , they do seem to present problems when being moved , white spot being the main cause of the dramas........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robfishfan Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 you should of waited a week before doing the water change ,and then it should of only been a hand from the top of the water line, then the next water changes you can return to normal 25%water change,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ....... you gave them a shock so they got white spot . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.