Clown Loach x9 Tank Size

[NeptunesNeighborhood]

Hi All,

I'm a rather new clown loach keeper. In early November I picked up nine 0.5" clown loach fry from an auction. They were captive bred by bioaquatix near Tampa, FL. Anyway, I didn't expect to be able to keep 9 clown loach fry alive when I had never had clown loaches before.

Fast forward to now, I expect they are about 4 months old. They range in size from 1.5" to about 2.5". I keep all 9 of them in a 60 gallon (48"x15"x18"). They seem happy, they hide a lot, but they'll come out and click when I feed them and they're active at night.They have 3 large pieces of diftwood, two cave rocks along with java fern and anubias and a full tank of duckweed.

I'm worried that I will stunt their growth. Some of them are smaller than others and some are growing rather rapidly. I know, genetics and competition for food and whatnot, but my concern still stands. I know they are in too small of a tank for the future, my question is what size aquarium would one need for 9 clown loaches to be happy and grown to whatever size each of them will grow to?

I had planned to upgrade to a 180 wide (6'x2'x2') but I was also considering a 240 long (8'x2'x2'). What would be sufficient for 9 clown loaches, fully grown? When would I need to get them the upgrade out of the 60 (age or size) to avoid any stunting? I'm not looking to upgrade more than once, like go to a 125 then to a 220. I also don't really want to split them up.

I have about 350 gallons in my fish room, but these clown loaches are in the display tank outside the fish room. They hang out with two tetras, a small krib, 4 ghost danios and a few otos right now. Working on moving some fish around, but they didn't do well without the dithers.

What should I be looking at?

Thanks!

[DainBramage1991]

The bigger the better, of course.

That being said, the 180 gallon tank would suffice. However, if you have space enough and budget enough, both you and the clowns would probably be happier with the 240 long.

[redshark1]

As above. But whichever you do you are heading towards something you can be immensely proud of and that will bring you a great deal of pleasure. These fish are great to own.

And be sure to do without ornaments they can get stuck in. I lost one that way. Make caves etc. big enough to house them comfortably.

Mine disappeared for two weeks when I introduced a big home for them!

[boxercrazy156]

I think a 240 gallon would be great for them my sister has 10 in a 200 gallon

I would watch the loaches not growing this happened to me and I lost one to skinny disease I bought 6 2 were not growing as fast as the others one really started to thin out api general cure has metronidazole in it and treats parasites I treated them and the other one started to gain weight and the five are good sine they were my first clown loaches I didn't know this could happen.

[NancyD]

You're good for a while in your current tank but when they get close to 5 or 6 inches...if you can get a bigger tank, you & your loaches would love the 240g, I know I would, no doubt about it!

As to growth rate, have you treated them for internal parasites? I don't think the rate you're seeing is anything to worry about, it sounds very good in only a few months. Females seem to get bigger faster, taller & fatter, so it could be a gender thing or a dominance issue. Good job! You must feed them well & keep the water clean to see that! Go big!