Loaches Online Forum

I know the board is about 9 years old, we hashed that out in a recent thread. So with that in mind, I assume that most of the participants started with loaches around then. But I do know there are a few or you out there who were into loaches well before that. JL and I for example were talking loaches for a couple years before this board started. HELL JL, I have know you for more then a decade!!! Anyway, based on a curiosity that Azmeaiel started, I thought I'd create my first poll.

My 35gal hex has had "the cronies," a Yoyo and clown, in there since at least '95. Hell there was an Otto cat in that tank for at least 7 years! That was the fish that amazed me. He disappeared in the plants for 2 or 3yrs and I was very surprised when I saw him. I have a histrionica, rostrata, and dario that are probably more then 7 years old.

JL has talked about clowns in California, that he knows are around 40 years old. I Think JL would be one of the guys with the biggest fish tails, but he, like many others, may have sold their old fish in the past. So this is not as much a poll to estimate the longevity of loaches as it is to see how long your guys have had yours.

So how old is your crony?

JD

Ok, I sort of "cheated"

I choose 10 yrs or older because I do have a 15 year old Clown Loach. However, I've only had him for a year or so.....does that count

Other then that, I have 5 Clowns that I've had for close to 4 years, now, so they would be the ones I've HAD longest

I still have my original kuhli loach. He's well over 20 years old and although he's showing his age (faded colors, no more loachy dance), he still eats heartily and sunbathes on his favorite plant.

I hope I'm in a good shape when I reach the equivalent of his age.....

Mamaschild, that's not cheating, you kow her age and that's cool having a FISH that long. I mean people think of Dogs and Cats living 10-20 years, but rarely think of a fish that way.

Loachaholic, a 20 year old Kuhli!! Very cool. I wouldn't have thoug it possiable.

JD

I've had my nigrolineatas for 7 years now but they were fully grown when I got them, so I have no idea how old they really are.

We have two yoyos at work that are at least four years old.

And they now have four more buddies to smack around. Go PetsMart, marking down said loaches to a little over a buck a piece.

the two oldest ones (and they all live with martin now) were purchased in december 1996 when they were about 2 inches, maybe 2.5 inches long. i suppose they are at least 10 years old now.

The oldest Clown I've owned since she was little is coming up for 14 years. But she must be slightly older than this, as she was already around 2" when I bought her. I have many others who are between 10 and 13 years, and also the 2 giants that I acquired last year that I believe are likely to be older than 14, due to their relative size.

Emma

The most surprising thing from all of this to me is that you can buy Yoyos for just over a buck a piece, over here I have been offered 6 yo yos for £60

Please pass me a comment if you read this, thanks.

Just took some pics of some of my six Clowns in my 6ft x 18" x 18" carefully planned community.

I bought all six (2f 6" and 4m 4.5") 15 years ago and they get on great with everybody.

I know I don't have everything perfect (I have algae and my new Bristlenose is making a start on it!) and when I bought them I didn't know that much, but things have worked out well because I've put the effort in.

Fair play to you mate, iv only had fish for a year and iv learnt plenty in such a short space of time! I'm loving it as a hobby, I find them so entertaining and enjoy carryingn out the routine maintenance, weirdly I find it very relaxing and rewarding. If you start slacking, it dosent take long to see a drop in conditionsl of your tank!

Thanks for digging up this old thread. I had never heard of a 20 year old kuhli before!

palaeodave wrote:Thanks for digging up this old thread. I had never heard of a 20 year old kuhli before!

Yes - I may just have been inspired to get some!

When I was a kid we had a 15+ year old Pakistani (Yo-yo?) loach once. Which Im suprised about because my mom doesnt take very good care of her tank. He died shortly after a large Molly/Platy ich outburst. I think the fizz-discs killed him because he didnt have scales.

Emma Turner wrote:The oldest Clown I've owned since she was little is coming up for 14 years. But she must be slightly older than this, as she was already around 2" when I bought her. I have many others who are between 10 and 13 years, and also the 2 giants that I acquired last year that I believe are likely to be older than 14, due to their relative size.

Emma

Would love to know the size of these beauties please