Loach Problem

[aussieJJDude]

Hi,
I posted this in the Welcome to the new loach forum section, but Jim suggested it would be better if I posted it here. So I did!
Quick up to date, I - well it is my parents, but I have been looking after it for 2 years - have a clown loach (and 3 P.kuhli or P.semicincta and hoping to get more) in a 65g corner tank (the backs is 95cm, sides are 20cm and the front is 1m. Water depth is 40cm).
The problem is that in the tank we had a bad snail infestation - according to my dad, I love snails - so then me and my dad was sucked into the "a clown will help get rid of the snails"! True, he did his job well, but now we stuck with a fish that will outgrow our tank! I would totally give him back to the store if I could, but I know that the store would just give him to a people with a snail problem in a 30cm cube! Plus, my dad believes that the tank is large enough to support the clown and I showed him this site. But nope, he is stubborn and says, "I been keeping fish long then you have!" or something similar! I tried to ask him if we could at least get a 100g tank, but nope doesn't want to and he worried about getting snails again. I even suggested giving to a person on here - that lives in Melbourne and getting some yoyo's - which I know will be happy in a 65g and also I really like to get a shoal - but nope, he wants to keep the clown! What can I do?
If I did get some yoyo's, would the clown be happy to shoal with them?
Or get a small shoal of clowns - like 2-3 more - and let them live in the 65g?
No matter what I do, I know that the clown(s) won't be happy!
Or I could go behind my parents back and give him to a person here, but if I do, there is a high chance my parents would get angry and not let me look after the fishes - which I LOVE to do! I could pull my hair out, my parents don't want to upgrade or get another tank and do a water bridge between the two.

[redshark1]

I personally feel that while it's not ideal, if you look after the Clown Loach well as you are apart from the tank size it will lead a healthy life. It will simply not attain its maximum size.
I'm not sure about compatability with other loaches, so it could be better if it had company but its a risk.
I don't personally think it would be unduly harmful to keep it on its own, just again not ideal.
All fish keeping is a compromise. Even rivers in Borneo are likely to be compromised by man's activities these days.
Its also sensible to compromise with your parents.
We have to decide by doing research and becoming informed what is our personally acceptable compromise.

[aussieJJDude]

Thanks redshark1 for the reply!
I feel I do look after him pretty well, regularly giving him pond snails from my hermie tank along with veggies - not sure if he is eating it though, maybe at night, but who knows? And of course, flake and sinking tablets! However, I do feel I can get a better flake/tablets for the fish and if possible, get it soon! It just so hard, I am a students who doesn't work (yet) and my parents aren't really into pocket money so most of my "income" comes from b'days... haha, but I get $50, so I can get a few different types of foods for the fishes and look into providing the hermit crabs with better and larger bowls..
I tried to compromise with my parents, asking if I could purchase the tank - which I have done before, I managed to buy all of my hermit crabs and stuff they need - but no, they don't want to get a larger tank, I be happy if it was 5 foot long and 50cm wide, just A little would go a long way! And I know for a fact that my parents would not like it if I managed to find him a decent home. My parents are great, but sometimes they can be a bit stubborn in their ways; however once or twice I managed to rescue hermies from a bad situation behind there back and they didn't know until I did a clean of the tank and noticed a few more extras.. So maybe in the future, I could convince them to let me have a bigger tank for the fishies...
However, due to it being a corner tank it kind of has a bit of depth to it and does equal exactly to a 135 x 46 x 40cm tank when they both empty! So I guess it is kind of large and maybe - saying maybe, I know it could support kuhlies, zerbas and yoyos - 3 clowns with regular water changes..
Maybe a stocking level of this could work:
3 clowns
12 kuhlis (some P.kuhli some P.oblonga)
pair of BN
pair of angels
and have a nice shrimp colony for angel/clown snacks??? Then along with PVC pipes, rocks, bogwood and plants - see if I can find some $5 not $15 anubias or java fern for the rocks... And a mixed sand and gravel bottom? Could install a small powerhead to keep the clowns happy... Or is my idea leading towards disaster?? Or would it be better to do something like this:
A clown
3 yoyos (to kind of pair up with the clown)
12 kuhlies
pair of BN
pair of angels
Why can't shops recommend yoyos for snail infestations, they seem way easier to handle plus they look kind of pretty! It always the big fish, however one thing I learn from fishkeeping is to research before buying and never listen to the store's advice and get other people opinions!

[Diana]

I would not go with so many bottom oriented fish.
I have not put Clowns and Yoyos together, but have kept both species.
Yoyos seem more aggressive, and are definitely predatory toward other fish (my half grown Yoyos ate a school of Neon Tetras).
They are also diggers. They tunnel under the substrate, uprooting whatever is planted and possibly undermining or tipping over driftwood and rock.

As suggested above, while not ideal, keep the one Clown. If you want more Loaches for the corner tank, go with smaller ones that are OK in a school, but will leave more room for other fish that will occupy the upper areas. Zebra Loaches are a good one.

[aussieJJDude]

The problem with australia is that I hardly seen any loaches, only kuhlis, clowns and yoyo's... I never seen zebras before, but I would love to keep some! Has any Australian's had zebras before?
Diana, what other loaches are common besides the ones I mentioned above?

[TrebleClef84]

Call Fishy Business Aquarium, looks like they might be the type to either have something in stock or be able to order it for you.

141 Whitehorse Rd
Blackburn VIC 3109
Australia

fishybusiness.net.au
+61 3 9877 0394

[aussieJJDude]

Thanks TrebleClef84, I will see if I can pop in next time and see if they can order zebras - which would be great!
I been there - totally forgot the name - they have a great selection of marine and tropical fishes available! Plus there plants are amazing! I managed to get a shoal of rasboras that lived for 9 years in my tank - and they were already mature when I got them - the last one died a year ago...
Such a fantastic place!

[redshark1]

There ya go! Loach problem solved!
Always stock low and feed low.

[aussieJJDude]

Thanks!
I been taking to my parents about a larger tank and if I purchased it with my own money... They kind of seemed a bit on board with the topic, so maybe if I good deal comes I could a 6 x 2 x 2 footer... One minute they say no, next they like maybe...
It would be a dream come true if it happened though!

[Loachloach]

Good luck with it Aussie. You've got great intentions and your loach will be certainly happier with some friends if you can afford it one day by getting a bigger tank. Not sure if your current tank is suitable but if it is and you have room and you can't afford a bigger tank maybe he'll be happy with another species of loaches that don't grow so big. Clown loaches also are known to school with tiger barbs due to the similar markings but tiger barbs can be nasty to other fish, especially if they are kept on low numbers. At least they don't grow as large as some loach species.

[aussieJJDude]

Thank Loachloach!
I hope I can get a bigger tank, I know that the fish would love it and if my vision turns out to be true, so will my family!
It has been suggested by people on here to get some zebras if I am interested in botia's, so next time I at my LFS I have a good look! However, first I need to give some - or all - of my guppies to a LFS, I have far too many! And maybe if I get rid of some of the larger bristlenoses too, I be able to get some zebras for sure!
I don't think tiger barbs are suitable for my tank at the moment, I have some fancy guppies in there which I know the tigers would love to harass and some of my larger bristlenose have impressive tails which might catch the eye of the tiger!