Need Tank Mate Suggestions

[Loachy]

Hi everyone,

An intro...
In the past 5 years I have moved from a 20 gallon tank to a 30 gallon to my new endeavor the 55 gallon tank. I inherited the 20 gallon tank from a friend along with one clown loach, 3 cherry barbs, a cory cat, and a pleco. A few years later, my brother dropped 4 unknown fish into my tank despite my objections... I found out later that 2 of them were long finned zebra danios. The 55 gallon tank is about 3 months old now and has the following inhabitants: My original loach that is now about 5 in., 3 new clown loaches (2 in. size), 1 cherry barb (the other two died a while back), 1 zebra danio (mate died a while back), 1 cory cat, and one very fat but small unknown fish (his mate died a while back). I had avoided getting any more fish because all I had was the 30 gallon tank and it was maxed with the pleco (which attained 16 in. rather quickly). The pleco never made it to the 55 gallon tank since a better home was found for him. I knew nothing about fish when I got the 20 gallon tank and have been learning with each new tank. I'm trying to be much more serious about the hobby since I really enjoy keeping these fish. I just love the clowns!

My tank looks rather empty right now. I added the 3 small loaches 2 weeks ago hoping that my larger loach would come out more. While the 3 little loaches are out and about more than the big guy, I would like to add more dither fish to encourage them. I have looked online and in all kinds of books for compatible fish but I'm scared about chosing the wrong thing.

I was thinking of adding 5 more zebra danios and 5 more cherry barbs as they recommend keeping them in sets of 6. I would like to add more fish, preferably that hang out in the top or middle levels of the tank.

Any suggestions? The reason I ask is because most of you seem to have been keeping clown loaches for a while and have first hand experience with what fish go well with them.

My husband likes the Pearl Gourami, any input? This is his first tank but he is so happy with it, that we are actually considering upgrading to 100+ gallon tank in a couple of years.

P.S. I also want to make sure that what I add works with the other fish in my tank.

(Sorry this got so long )

Thanks in advance

[Emma Turner]

Hi Loachy - welcome to Loaches Online.

With regards to tankmates for your clown loaches, I wouldn't advise on getting more zebra danios as they prefer much cooler temperatures and are better suited to temperate (rather than tropical) conditions.

Cherry barbs, whilst they do enjoy company of their own kind, are not a tightly shoaling species, and so the dither effect may be a little lost.

I'd suggest looking at other small-medium sized members of the barb, rainbowfish, rasbora, and tetra families.

Pearl gouramis are very beautiful, but they prefer much calmer waters to that of clown loaches.

By the way, it is great to hear that you are going to be upgrading to a larger tank for your clowns in the not too distant future.

Emma

[Emma Turner]

I should also add that if you introduce more clown loaches to your group, this will also give them a lot more confidence in venturing out, as will subdued lighting.

Best wishes,

Emma

[Diana]

Many Rainbow fish do well in the same conditions as the Clown Loaches: Warm, fast moving water. Long tank so they can swim a lot. There are several species of Rainbows, so do a little research. Most will thrive in a wide range of pH and water hardness, but just to be sure it helps to check up on these things.
Schooling fish like Congo Tetras can go well in a loach tank, too. Check that the schooling fish you want can handle the current. Many come from slow moving rivers and are just not going to be out and about where they have to fight the current.
If you want to stick to Asian fish, there are many species of Barb and Rasbora that might work.

[Loachy]

Thanks for your suggestions Emma and Diana!

I just purchased a 50/50 bulb for my aquarium since none of the fish liked the bright light that came with the lids. While it's softer, they still don't like it but I'm trying to introduce them to it slowly. The fish are a lot more active if I just keep the tank lights off and the room light on.

Emma, how many clowns do you think I can safely add to my tank without overcrowding it? My husband would like 50 but would settle for 10... ha, ha, ha. He saw beautiful loach tank at our local lfs and just fell in love with the concept.

I will definitely look into the rainbows and the congo tetras in case you guys think that I shouldn't add more clowns.

[blued941]

if u wanted to add some fish that swim in middle most of the time u could try to add some sword tails or some guppys also a pink gourmi will be ok with clown loaches too also angel fish i started of with 4 fish and now have over 150 fish and snails and loaches and african frogs in my tanks hope all goes well enjoy

[Emma Turner]

if u wanted to add some fish that swim in middle most of the time u could try to add some sword tails or some guppys also a pink gourmi will be ok with clown loaches too also angel fish i started of with 4 fish and now have over 150 fish and snails and loaches and african frogs in my tanks hope all goes well enjoy

Swordtails and guppies prefer harder more alkaline water to that of clown loaches, and the guppies in particular would not handle fast current very well at all. If the pink gourami mentioned is Helostoma temminckii, then this fish is not suitable on account of it's aggression and territorial nature when adult and it's preference for calmer waters.

Emma

[helen nightingale]

Hi Loachy, and welcome

it sounds like your husband has great plans 50 clowns would be wonderfull. you seem to have well and truely caught the bug

i like Diana's suggestion of the congo tetras, these are very pretty and are a nice size. i like to keep rasboras as dithers, as they are quite active fish that can have really beautifull colours when kept in good water


if you want to know about the unknown fish, you could put a picture on the freshwater forum, and someone is likely to know about it.

enjoy your new tank

helen