Loaches Online Forum

Being a novice when it comes to keeping clowns a bit of advice would be appreciated. I have 9 clowns ranging from 2 inches to 6 inches. All the clowns 4 inches and below have stunning colouration but the bigger fish are very very pale. My question being is this normal / usual or do I need to look at their diet which is frozen bloodworm and pellets.

Generaly with clowns that age so does their colour. It becomes very black or very pale but with the food your feeding them and the right places to hide they shouldn't be that colour. You might want to try some sinking fish flakes that are specifically used for colouration. Thats just in my opinion.

Thanks Clown loach I will give it a go.

Hey Baz

I have 9 Clowns also....gotta love the clowns

Anyway, I have 5 that I have raised for over 3 years now, and 4 that I added just over a year ago. My original 5 are all bright orange and dark shiney black. However, the other 4 are much paler. They range between 5" and my Big Boy who's about 10" sans tail.

I've been told that the color pales as they grow, but I know it also depends on the other things Clown mentioned above. I have been told that in the year since I got the big ones, their color has improved, but it's still nothing like the littler ones.

Here's some examples:
This is Albert (big guy) when I first got him
http://www.tropicalfishgallery.com/phot ... m=52&pos=8
here he is just a week or so ago
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/ ... uppyRS.jpg
Here's the littler ones...a bit blurry, but you get the idea
http://www.tropicalfishgallery.com/phot ... =52&pos=15

Ok, Ramble over. Hope something in there helps

Thanks mamaschild I feel reassured now. The big one definately looks darker, he certainly is a handsome beast.

Thanks, Baz

Albert is just a BIG WET PUPPY

Just for grins and giggles, here's an article on clown color variations:

http://www.loaches.com/markings.html

I have just had a look at the article Shari, I dont really know what to say, thanks from me and my gang