Clown Loaches and plants?

[Aulonochromis]

I've always wanted some Clown Loaches, so I've been reading up on them. I'm getting conflicting information, some people say they destroy plants, some say they are best suited to planted tanks. Does anyone have experience with Clowns and plants?

[ddaquaria]

I have them in my asian tank and the only thing they have destroyed was my crypt tonkinses. They have left all the other plants unharmed. There was another plant that they devoured in my tank - I think it was my cardinalis but I can't remember.

[Laith]

The only problems I've had with Clown Loaches and plants is with E. bleheri. They loved to create designs with bite sized holes in the big leaves... but of course only when I wasn't looking!

Took me ages to figure out what was happening!

[Hop]

I have three that make it into my main tank a few times a year. I use them when the snail population gets too high. As far as plants go, theese three seem to leave the plants alone.

[nailed]

I have 3 5” clowns and they have not touched any of my plants unless there is a carpet of alga on them.

[GDominy]

I collect loaches of several species and there some things to consider.

1.) Loaches are omnivores.. they eat anything.. IF they develop a taste for plants.. it can be challenging to break.

2.) Some loaches seem to enjoy plants more then others.. there is no rule for this

3.) Feeding your loaches a diet of mostly frozen foods seems to curb teh plant munching behavior quite drastically.

[Silent Running]

So, Auolonchromis, did you end up getting any clown loaches? If so, how are they working out? I'm considering getting 3 for my 100 gallon. My LFS has them on sale 3 for $10.

Hop, where do you keep them the rest of the year? Is there a reason there not in your main tank all the time?

[fatbysl]

i recently bought 2 clown loaches from wally world because i heard they were good snail eaters, but from what i see they have not touched any of the snails. As for my plants they dont touch them at all so i think it would be safe to get some.

[ThatNewGuy]

I went to the LFS the other day and they had just a second shipment of 600 clown loaches. They had over 1200 loaches from their supplier in that last month. They were all very small (3/4 to 1 inch) but brightly colored and very active. They had a huge sign saying they were only $2 but carried no guarantees because of the small size. I had lost my 2 loaches about 2 months and the snail population was growing out of control. So three tiny loaches maded their way into a baggie and into my tank.

Almost immediately they begin a game of turning over snails and poke at their soft underbellys. It amazes me how easily the can dislodge snails and how happy I am to see all these upside down snails. While I still see lots of snails I admit that I don't see anywhere near the number of smaller snails. While I don't see the loaches eating any snails I have noticed that my older and larger female swords following the loaches around making an ocasional meal of the now unprotected snails. I can't help but cheer.