Tank Big Enough for Clowns?

saphphx · Post by **saphphx** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:48 am

Hi there!

We have about 10 clowns. If they all live to be full grown, will a 78x24x24 inch tank be big enough for them or should we think about re-homing some of them now?

Thanks

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:25 am

That would comfortably house them for a long, long time, providing you are able to supply them with a decent amount of filtration and water movement (the more, the better). In fact, you could probably add to your existing group if you didn't overstock with too many other fish species.

If there is a chance of you going slightly wider with the tank, say 28", that would be even better for them.

Emma

saphphx · Post by **saphphx** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:02 pm

Emma Turner wrote:That would comfortably house them for a long, long time, providing you are able to supply them with a decent amount of filtration and water movement (the more, the better). In fact, you could probably add to your existing group if you didn't overstock with too many other fish species. If there is a chance of you going slightly wider with the tank, say 28", that would be even better for them.

Brilliant

I don't think we would add more then 10 lol. Have to see about sorting out the other fish first though and see who is staying. Do you think fully grown clowns would eat adult corys? Would clowns get along with synadontis? So many things to think about lol.

Thanks Emma, you're a star

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:36 pm

The only problem you might encounter when housing Corydoras together with clown loaches is during feeding time. Adult clowns can be very boisterous and accidentally send smaller bottom-dwelling fish flying when they dive in for their food. They certainly won't deliberately attack or eat them though.

As for Synodontis, personally I would pass on those, as you already have clowns inhabiting the bottom layer. Depending on the species they can get huge too. If you want to see more action in the lower reaches of the tank, I can't emphasise enough how beneficial and rewarding it would be to introduce more clowns to your existing group! Also look out for some of the Garra species (particularly Garra flavatra) as these make great additions to the loach aquarium.

Emma

saphphx · Post by **saphphx** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:16 pm

lol now that you said that I watched a little panda go flying a few mins ago when I added some snails to the baby tank

I only have 3 synadontis that came with the large tank. they are these ones: 2x Synodontis eupterus (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/sp ... ies_id=121) and 1x Synodontis bastiani (http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/sp ... es_id=1166)

Not sure if I will keep them at all, and really really not sure if Mr Grey is a Synodontis bastiani but we're fairly sure that the Spiky Twins are Synodontis eupterus, going to take some pics of them tonight though as had to move them to their own tank due to pacu problems.

Thanks

(May end up with more clowns if I want them or not

People keep going "ooo, you have them, take mine!" and "he's to big, you have him" which is how I got pacu........ -sigh-)

saphphx · Post by **saphphx** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:54 pm

oh... my.... went to the lfs and saw the clowns they were to off load, about 3-4 inches and sunk in every which way, the most deseased looking half dead poor loaches I have ever seen in my life. I just couldn't take them. I said if they treated them for two weeks and they lived I would have them, but they're to big for my q tanks, and they look about to die, so there is no way I was going to put them in my big tank and risk the rest. I have never left a shop because I was crying to much, but that got me. The shop owner is a good lad and will see to them, I just couldn't deal right now. I know it may make me a bad person, but at least I left them in good care and the previous owner turned them over, but my god, do they need a good feeding and worming. I feel so guilty for leaving them there, but I KNOW the owner will look after them, and has said he'll be in on his day off to see to them as well.

Ippo456 · Post by **Ippo456** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:55 pm

What is the rule of thumb when buying a tank for clown loaches?
I know that for the smaller fishes such as danios & minnows, it's 1-inch of fish to 1-1.5 gallon of water.
I know that clown loaches grow up to 12-16 inches long, so if I have 5 2-inches clowns, would I be applying the same rule of thumb for their full-grown size of 12-16 inches?
I'm planning to buy a bigger tank & need guidance.
Thanks

saphphx · Post by **saphphx** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:30 pm

Ippo456 wrote:What is the rule of thumb when buying a tank for clown loaches?
I know that for the smaller fishes such as danios & minnows, it's 1-inch of fish to 1-1.5 gallon of water.
I know that clown loaches grow up to 12-16 inches long, so if I have 5 2-inches clowns, would I be applying the same rule of thumb for their full-grown size of 12-16 inches?
I'm planning to buy a bigger tank & need guidance.
Thanks

No idea. lol. I would think... I don't know... I have 10, that will fit in 700ltr, and Emma said I can have more then that, so say 15 full grown for a 700ltr and work out the math?

You should have more then 2 though, they are best in groups and more fun to watch in groups

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:03 pm

When talking about larger clowns, it is important to take body mass into consideration as well as length. For example, one 12" clown loach would produce much more waste than say twelve 1" Rasboras.

Emma

Ippo456 · Post by **Ippo456** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:05 pm

Yea .. I did the calculation .. it's more or less 1-inch of loach requires about 1-1.5g (or 3.7-5.5L) of water.

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:12 pm

It's the surface area you want to be looking at, not just the amount of water.

Filtration has to be taken into account too.

With regards to big clowns, this is how stocky my biggest 2 were in 2005, alongside a standard 30cm (12") ruler:

Emma

Ippo456 · Post by **Ippo456** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:48 pm

Nice looking fish Emma!!!!
So, do you recommend tall or long tanks?
Well, of course if I get a larger tank, I'd also upgrade the filtration system & also include a powerhead

worldrallynut · Post by **worldrallynut** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:06 pm

most catfish in general prefer floorspace over height. For clowns, I would say a minimum of 1.5' width.

saphphx · Post by **saphphx** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:03 am

holy cow Emma! How long do they take to get that big??? -stressing- lol that fish could eat ME!!

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:02 pm

Ippo456, when planning a new tank for clown loaches, the most important measurements will be the length and width (the 'footprint'). Height is also important, particularly when housing larger specimens, but primarily it is the length and width that you should be most concerned with. My tank is 84" long x 27" wide x 28" high.

Saph, I'm not sure exactly how old my two 'monsters' are, as we bought them in 2005 from a store who had had them bought in by someone who's tank they had outgrown. But as a guideline, I have some clowns that I've had for 14 years now, and those are around the 9" mark.

Emma

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