Clown Loaches w/ Amano Shrimp

RoxiesMom · 08-31-2007, 09:42 PM

I'll be going to the "big city" this weekend to hopefully get a couple of Clown Loaches to deal with my pond snails. (Jay, there weren't any nearby) What I would like to know is, will they eat my Amano Shrimp? Thanks for your input.

Sarah84 · 09-01-2007, 11:29 AM

I don't see it being a problem.. (depending on the size of the clown loach of course) CL's are known for eating snails.
Sarah

RoxiesMom · 09-01-2007, 10:28 PM

Thank you Sarah84. I plan to get the smallest ones I can find.

twood63 · 09-01-2007, 11:39 PM

I have a 29 that we have found a few snails within the tank. I'm reallly overpopulated now with all the babies I have. What kind of stress to the tank am I looking at getting a couple for the 29????

T

Tommy Gun · 09-02-2007, 03:47 AM

In general, unless you have a fully grown clown loach, you shouldn't have to worry about them eating your shrimp...and even then I still do not think you have all that much to worry about. The long and short of it is clown loaches have a relatively tiny mouth and so they can eat only so much. In fact, I kept 4 clown loaches in the past in the same tank as a pretty large apple snail and no one ate the other, hence there must be a limit to the size of snail they can eat.

As far as how many to keep, the good news is that they grow so slow that many of us can 'get away' with keeping them for years in a tank which will ultimately be too small in the 20 years or so it takes to grow to the full potential of about a foot or so. The bad news though is that out of all the schooling/shoaling fish, clown loaches can behave very differently if they are not kept in groups of three or more. For example, if you have only one clown loach, the odds are good that it will be very reclusive and shy but add a few more and it may become bold enough to be out in the open all day. I have also heard that they often times refuse to eat, including snails, if they are kept singularly. So, with that in mind, you should consider if your tank can continue to thrive if you were to add three or more fish rather than just one. IMHO, they have such cool little personalities that a group of them is well worth it.

Oh, and by the way, clown loaches are relatively notorious for playing dead, so don't be too hasty in thinking there is something wrong when you notice this relatively odd behavior.

Jay · 09-03-2007, 12:58 PM

I have three types of loaches golden kuli, clowns, and yoyos. It is funny the first time you see a long kuli hanging over a leaf stem apparently dead only to find out it was napping.

The small mouth on the clowns and yoyos allows them to roll the small snail over and "pry out the snail meat". They are very tolerant of the other critters. I think the amanos will be fine.

A word of caution about clowns. They have a sharp spine just under the eye, and can give you a good prick if you ever have to handle one.

Regards,
Jay

RoxiesMom · 09-03-2007, 07:23 PM

One of the clowns opened his spine when I was trying to get him out of the bag... we had a heck of a time but finally managed without doing any damage to him. (or her).

I think the reason my seargent major loach/ ladder loach, who is also a Botia, doesn't eat the snails is because he's lonely. I inherited him with my 70 gal. I can't seem to find any more. He doesn't come out much. That is until the clowns tried to take over his "cave". And he gave them what for!

The 3 clowns have already pretty much cleared up the snails. My mystery snails have laid eggs, so every now and then, the clowns will get more goodies!

Tommy Gun · 09-03-2007, 09:36 PM

Glad to hear that your new snail control method has multiple benifits! I have to say that I love loaches myself and have kept both clowns and yo-yos, and lived a bit vicariously through my brother who has some kuhlii loaches (and now my yo-yo loaches). I found some pictures of a ladder loach and don't think I have ever seen or heard of them before. Very nice fish though.

My reasoning for posting, other than to say I am jealous about the ladder loach, was to add to Jay's comments by saying that netting clown loaches is never a good idea...but it sounds as if you have realized that now.

As a small side note, I was wondering if you every see your amano shrimp? I had three of them when my 90 gallon tank was planted and never saw them more than twice, and one of them was when I brought them home in a bag. Since changing over that tank to cichlids, I put the shrimp in a 10 gallon tank, thinking I would surely see them in there, but I was wrong. So, I guess I am curious to know if all of them are as reclusive as mine?

P-Daddy · 09-03-2007, 09:52 PM

Tommy my Amano's are also very reclusive, I do see them often, but sometime I can go days or weeks without seeing them. They are just such masters at hiding and can fit in the darnest places. I am not sure how many I even have left, I've had at least one crawl out and die on my lid despite the fact that it is very tight fitting.

If you have rocks or driftwood check in any gaps between the rocks and the substrate, they love to crawl into the tiniest of caves.

RoxiesMom · 09-03-2007, 10:11 PM

Tommy,
Yes, several times I can see 2-3 of my Amano's at one time. I have put in a total of 7. Last week I saw 5 at one time. I didn't see any for several weeks after I put them in. But now they seem to have found the driftwood and stay pretty close to it. I found them the first time because I noticed the crypt. wendtii in front of it was being eaten on it spots - looked around and there they were! My husband still has trouble seeing them! They are masters of disguise! I'm sure yours are still there, just hiding! Look for the antennae moving around, that's usually easier to spot. For me anyway.