How long to maturity

[kaz]

How long does it take for a Clown Loach to reach maturity?

I have had Yoyo's for 3 years and they were pretty much fully grown within 1 year. Is it the same for the Clowns? Im assuming not, as the ones I have now, which are great, have had a few growth spurts but are still fairly small in clown terms (3").

Also, please advize on small motterling (sp?) patches a little like shadowing? Dark patches, only on few areas, barely 1mm wide, not increasing in size or causing distress. And only on the select 2 clowns. Should I worry? Or is this normal in a non-uniform kind of a way??

I have been monitoring them, there has been the occasional flick against a leaf but nothing alarming. I am new to the Clowns...more a yoyo kinda gall...and hopefully worrying about nothing???

Id be grateful for any advice (sorry difficult to explain too )

Kaz

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Hi Kaz,

How long does it take for a Clown Loach to reach maturity?

I have read controvertial reports on that. Some say the are sexual mature at age 10 to 12 years. Others says they are mature when they reach about 15cm long.

On this article bellow, Ola Ahlander says they are mature by size:
http://www.bollmoraakvarieklubb.org/art ... 0loach.htm

Let´s see what others says.

Also, please advize on small motterling (sp?) patches a little like shadowing? Dark patches, only on few areas, barely 1mm wide, not increasing in size or causing distress. And only on the select 2 clowns. Should I worry? Or is this normal in a non-uniform kind of a way??

There are a few particular markings on Clown loaches. Can you post a photo?

Take a look at this:

Clown Loach Coloration & Marking Variations

[kaz]

Thank you very much Marcos.

Great.

Kaz

[Botia Robert]

I have come across numerous articles impying clowns grow very slowly. In the Aquarium they may reach 10 - 12 inches and may live from 20 - 50 years. For example an 8 inch clown may only be 8 - 10 years old.
I would expect their growth and life span is effected by tank size as well as their general happiness.
I am interested in finding out the life spans of other loaches people may want to keep such as YoYo's, Kubotai, Histrionica, Zebra's and so on. I have this wierd idea in my head that life span is loosley proportional to body size. Would love to know if there is any truth to this.

[Marcos Mataratzis]

I´m afraid not Robert,

I have this wierd idea in my head that life span is loosley proportional to body size. Would love to know if there is any truth to this.

See, as an example the Oscar (Astronotus ocelatus). It´s life span is regulary 7 to 9 years only. Rare reports on Oscars above 10 to 12 years old.

[mikev]

Life span is a combination of many factors, including the size.

A table of life spans for at least the Botia's would be quite interesting to see, perhaps some other factors can be guessed. The burst initial growth in yoyo's is probably a negative, it appears that smaller species like Striata (and prob Kubs too) may be longer living...

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Indeed mikev,

That initial burst in growth of YoYo´s is a good guess they are not too long life span. I would be also very interested on a life span table if any.
Does anybody know?

[mikev]

I asked this question a month ago and nobody reacted.

Here are two data points:
Graeme says that Yoyo's lifespan is about 12 years.
Someone here has a 13-year old Striata (was mentioned in the sig)...I wonder how old is Emma's Striata.
Not enough for conclusions, but enough for hopefully fertile digging.

Kubs, unf., no way to know, they were not kept long enough.

[Marcos Mataratzis]

So, let´s hope Emma or someone else have few more information.

[Emma Turner]

mikev, are you referring to my dad's B. striata (the gorgeous one in that photo in the species index) or the giant one we had in our display tank at the shop?

Whilst it would be difficult to estimate on the one in the display tank - can't remember how big it was when I first put it in there 5 years ago, and what with it having passed on and not knowing when, I really couldn't say. My dad's fish however, is not as large as you might think, despite the 'mature' markings. I'd have to double check next time I'm visiting, but from memory I'd say it was around 3.0-3.5" and he must have had it in there for around 5 years. It came from our shop and I have never received a shipment of B. striata of less than 1.5" TL. In fact, they are more usually 2"+ TL.

Many factors influence size of fish: water chemistry, water change frequency and % change, food (frequency and type), size of tank the fish are kept in from a young size etc etc. Then you have the possible release of growth-inhibiting hormones from the Alpha fish in what is, when compared to these fish in the wild, a fairly confined space....

Emma

[mikev]

Emma,

thanks. Somehow I thought your Dad's Striata was a possible record-breaker, it does look very mature.

(On an aside, I really wonder where these 2" Striata's are coming from.... my new group, they are slightly above 1", the smallest is 1.5cm).

[Emma Turner]

(On an aside, I really wonder where these 2" Striata's are coming from.... my new group, they are slightly above 1", the smallest is 1.5cm).

I got a batch in last week which are 2" TL and in great condition. Incidentally, they came from mine and Frank's mutual supplier.

Emma

[Melgrj7]

Last year I got a bunch of young kubotai, an inch maybe less. They were in their juvenile form. They are still not completely fully grown, but most are in their adult patterns, although I wouldn't be surprised to see them still change more. I have one adult that I bought about 2? years ago that was an adult when I got it. It is about an inch or so bigger than the younger ones and its pattern has changed since I got it. Anyway, we will see how long they live for me:) I am hoping for a very long time.

Kubs, unf., no way to know, they were not kept long enough.

[mikev]

@Striata: too late for me. Seven is a decent size crowd....but i need to visit Frank and take a look.

@Kubs: the oldest Kubs I have were grown from 1" in about 2 years, and are about 2" now..not sure they are growing, but they are certainly fat. The group of 2" I got in March is certainly growing, at different speeds. The 3" current Alpha and Beta, here for a year, did not grow at all. --- it somehow feels that the size is not a good indication of age or ability to grow.

[helen nightingale]

i got my first yoyo nearly 4 years ago, and he had already lost the juvie YOYO pattern down his sides. i cant remeber how big he was, just that he was a lot bigger than the others and the shop thought he was a kubotai. when i got the second yoyo, this one grew to the sixe of the first one then stopped

now i have the massive Betsy and Bertha, and the original yoyos have put on another growth spurt. betsy and bertha are tall fish as well as long and fat, but the original yoyos are now seeming to grow long like pencils rather than chunky marker pens like betsy and bertha.


my odd patterned striata seems to have stopped growing - i wonder if its more than just a mutated pattern, as he is small.