Loaches Online Forum

I currently have a 55 gallon tank with 5 clown loaches (largest is about 4", smallest is about 1.5"), angelfish, harlequin rasboras, and a pleco. I am moving the fish into a 125 gallon tank. I was planning to get some amano shrimp in the future, so I was wondering if the clown loaches are compatible with amano shrimp. I don't want the shrimp to become tasty meals for my loaches.

I have 4 amano shrimp with 10 young clowns, from 2" to 3.5". They are fine, actively try to get a piece of algae wafer when they go in. The shrimp are now 2" with long antennae, shed frequently and appear fine, often all together eating algae on a cantral tree trunk ornament which I never clean to encourage algae for them. I have recently added 4 bigger clowns, around 4 to 4.5" and they seem interested in the shrimp and it crossed my mind they may be a tasty snack one day. So far, they are still there. They do keep all the plants and ornaments free of algae as well as trying to get any food especially live bloodworm. If they are all together, occasionally I give them a treat and it hasn't stopped them eating algae. They are a lovely addition to tank, their tiny legs moving so fast as they swim.

Hi Mary, thanks for the info.

Another question, with the first batch of clown loaches and amano shrimp, did you add the shrimp, or were the shrimp already there and you added the clown loaches?

The reason I ask is, when my loaches see anything drop into the tank, they get curious and charge at it, since they think it's normally food. The good thing is, they are afraid of living things. I tried to feed my fish red worms and the loaches got scared of the worms wiggling in the tank and just ignored them.