Overstocking 125g
Good day!
I do want to start by saying I realize stocking has a lot to do with personal experience and willingness to keep up with tank maintenance.
I like to use aqadvisor for my stocking to play around with species and the number I want to keep. My last tank was a 75g stocking with 10 Denison barbs, 20 cherry barbs, 10 neon tetra, 8 emerald green cories, 2 bristlenose plecos and 6 otos. That's about 130% stocked on aquadvisor. Well, I put in my current setup of a 125g with a 75g sump (approx. 180g of water) and put in some fish. I started with 2 SAE and 5 clown loaches. I then added 10 Denison barbs and I saw the notification that my tank was overstocked and it has it at 110% already! Are clown loaches THAT big? I basically want to get some opinions on clown loaches. I don't think I'll be able to keep them into adulthood, but I should be able to house them for several years, right?
Hoping to find some anecdotes about SAEs and clown loaches! Thanks.
I do want to start by saying I realize stocking has a lot to do with personal experience and willingness to keep up with tank maintenance.
I like to use aqadvisor for my stocking to play around with species and the number I want to keep. My last tank was a 75g stocking with 10 Denison barbs, 20 cherry barbs, 10 neon tetra, 8 emerald green cories, 2 bristlenose plecos and 6 otos. That's about 130% stocked on aquadvisor. Well, I put in my current setup of a 125g with a 75g sump (approx. 180g of water) and put in some fish. I started with 2 SAE and 5 clown loaches. I then added 10 Denison barbs and I saw the notification that my tank was overstocked and it has it at 110% already! Are clown loaches THAT big? I basically want to get some opinions on clown loaches. I don't think I'll be able to keep them into adulthood, but I should be able to house them for several years, right?
Hoping to find some anecdotes about SAEs and clown loaches! Thanks.
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Hahah. :grin2: That is a massive clown loach! Along with some large Bala Sharks. I'd love to have both of those fish at sizes like that, but I don't think I'll ever own a tank truly large enough. I'd imagine a 8' tank would be the bare minimum. I may have to look into other loaches instead! My LFS actually had ropefish as well as khuli loaches. Not sure I can provide the best environment for either of those though.
What do you plan to do with them after that?I don't think I'll be able to keep them into adulthood, but I should be able to house them for several years, right?
This always seems to bring out some controversy. I've kept Clown Loaches in my tanks for decades. I buy them small, and usually keep them for about 3 or 4 years. Takes that long to get in the 4" to 6" range.Are clown loaches THAT big? I basically want to get some opinions on clown loaches. I don't think I'll be able to keep them into adulthood, but I should be able to house them for several years, right?
When they get to that size, I trade them into my local fish store. He's happy to have them, as they would cost a fortune from a wholesaler. They sell quickly, as there is always someone with a larger tank out there looking for them.
As to tank stocking, I always keep mine at the high end of the scale. In my experience, paying attention to the basics (large regular water changes, good surface agitation, heavy filtration, good filter maintenance, good flow), leaves a lot more room for error.
Good luck and looking forward to seeing what you end up doing.
Basically what Greggz said. I talked to my LFS the last time I had a tank and he said he ALWAYS has a buyer for 6"+ clowns. They had some in a tank marked "Sold" so I asked him about them. It'd be a foster care for them basically.What do you plan to do with them after that?
Thanks for the input. That was sort of my idea originally. So it's good to know it can be done. They are excellent fish and super fun to watch. I've seen them kept in tons of tanks, plenty around the size of mine. So I thought I'd inquire since there are plenty of stories to be told!This always seems to bring out some controversy. I've kept Clown Loaches in my tanks for decades. I buy them small, and usually keep them for about 3 or 4 years. Takes that long to get in the 4" to 6" range.
When they get to that size, I trade them into my local fish store. He's happy to have them, as they would cost a fortune from a wholesaler. They sell quickly, as there is always someone with a larger tank out there looking for them.
As to tank stocking, I always keep mine at the high end of the scale. In my experience, paying attention to the basics (large regular water changes, good surface agitation, heavy filtration, good filter maintenance, good flow), leaves a lot more room for error.
Good luck and looking forward to seeing what you end up doing.
My tank may or may not have a drip system, still figuring out how to pipe the overflow drain. It will likely be tremendously over filtered with a lot of surface agitation (no CO2, no reason not to IMO). Despite this, I would not consider myself a veteran fish keeper. So I like to hear the experience of others as I research.
Ahh, this must be a regional thing. Here in NYC, there is a surplus of large fish. Most fish store won't take them. The owner of Pacific Aquarium, one of most highly regarded freshwater fish shops in the city, once told me a story about getting a call from an aquarist who had a very large fish (I think an arowana?). He told the guy that he can't take in such large fish because no one wants to buy them. The next morning, he found a 5 gallon bucket left outside his storefront with a large tail sticking out of it.Basically what Greggz said. I talked to my LFS the last time I had a tank and he said he ALWAYS has a buyer for 6"+ clowns. They had some in a tank marked "Sold" so I asked him about them. It'd be a foster care for them basically.
True story! Really: I swear it's not just a big fish tail.
[But seriously that's a story I was told. Pardon the pun.]
This made me uneasy. Probably a regional thing. Aquariums are super popular in Florida. Arowana are like gnar though. They are a different type of big. Very few people can house those at all. You need a pond basically. A 12" fish though, plenty of places can house. I think the LFS I go to can return them to the fish farmer/whatever.Ahh, this must be a regional thing. Here in NYC, there is a surplus of large fish. Most fish store won't take them. The owner of Pacific Aquarium, one of most highly regarded freshwater fish shops in the city, once told me a story about getting a call from an aquarist who had a very large fish (I think an arowana?). He told the guy that he can't take in such large fish because no one wants to buy them. The next morning, he found a 5 gallon bucket left outside his storefront with a large tail sticking out of it.
True story! Really: I swear it's not just a big fish tail.
[But seriously that's a story I was told. Pardon the pun.]
That's fair: maybe I was being a little hyperbolic. But still, even foot long fish can be hard to push here. You see them up for sale, week after week, on Craigslist. Makes sense if you consider how small the average living space is here!This made me uneasy. Probably a regional thing. Aquariums are super popular in Florida. Arowana are like gnar though. They are a different type of big. Very few people can house those at all. You need a pond basically. A 12" fish though, plenty of places can house. I think the LFS I go to can return them to the fish farmer/whatever.
Should not have applied that assumption to Florida. Apologies!
It's tough to say for sure. I'd gladly give away most fish after having them for awhile, if they outgrow my tank.. I think I have enough here to come up with something! I may go a different route to avoid the issue altogether.That's fair: maybe I was being a little hyperbolic. But still, even foot long fish can be hard to push here. You see them up for sale, week after week, on Craigslist. Makes sense if you consider how small the average living space is here!
Should not have applied that assumption to Florida. Apologies!
Small three inch clown loach(commonly offered) would in my view take approx. five yrs to become 8 inch long.Another five year's to maybe,,,grow to a foot.Good day!
I do want to start by saying I realize stocking has a lot to do with personal experience and willingness to keep up with tank maintenance.
I like to use aqadvisor for my stocking to play around with species and the number I want to keep. My last tank was a 75g stocking with 10 Denison barbs, 20 cherry barbs, 10 neon tetra, 8 emerald green cories, 2 bristlenose plecos and 6 otos. That's about 130% stocked on aquadvisor. Well, I put in my current setup of a 125g with a 75g sump (approx. 180g of water) and put in some fish. I started with 2 SAE and 5 clown loaches. I then added 10 Denison barbs and I saw the notification that my tank was overstocked and it has it at 110% already! Are clown loaches THAT big? I basically want to get some opinions on clown loaches. I don't think I'll be able to keep them into adulthood, but I should be able to house them for several years, right?
Hoping to find some anecdotes about SAEs and clown loaches! Thanks.
They grow fairly fast to five inches, but slow down after that IME.
Kept them and synodontis multipunctatus in 75 gal till both species out grew the tank.(6 yrs)
Kept another group of clown loaches with YoYo loaches in 80 gal with Electric Blue Dempsey for about two year's, and was a very busy tank.
Traded the loaches for a group of Festivum.
This is good to hear. That is a pretty decent time window to have them before they do outgrow my tank. Hopefully I'll be looking at my next project around that time! I'll probably opt for a small school (3-5) and keep them for a few years.Small three inch clown loach(commonly offered) would in my view take approx. five yrs to become 8 inch long.Another five year's to maybe,,,grow to a foot.
They grow fairly fast to five inches, but slow down after that IME.
Kept them and synodontis multipunctatus in 75 gal till both species out grew the tank.(6 yrs)
Kept another group of clown loaches with YoYo loaches in 80 gal with Electric Blue Dempsey for about two year's, and was a very busy tank.
Traded the loaches for a group of Festivum.
Sidenote: In addition to plain tank volume, Aqadvisor takes tank dimensions quite heavily into account. So for same amount of fish, differently shaped 10 gallon tanks can be listed as being 50% or 100% bioload.
There are other loaches that don't get as big as clowns, but have the same temperament and character. Try either a Angelicus Loach (polka dot) or YoYo loaches. Both max out around 6" so you could keep them a while, and keep a larger school of them.
Thanks for that bit of information. I know swimming habits do matter. A 6' long tank can house more active swimmers than a cube aquarium of the same volume. Didn't think to take that into consideration.Sidenote: In addition to plain tank volume, Aqadvisor takes tank dimensions quite heavily into account. So for same amount of fish, differently shaped 10 gallon tanks can be listed as being 50% or 100% bioload.
The only issue with this is availability. Call me cheap or toss it up to any number of reasons, but I like to purchase my fish locally and I have not seen either of those available at the LFS or box chains. I will, however, see if I can get some YoYos custom ordered possibly! I've heard great things about them as well.There are other loaches that don't get as big as clowns, but have the same temperament and character. Try either a Angelicus Loach (polka dot) or YoYo loaches. Both max out around 6" so you could keep them a while, and keep a larger school of them.
I've had a pair(originally 3) yoyo loaches in a 125g tank for probably 6-7 years and they seem to have gotten as big as they are going to. They are about 5 inches and very robust. They are very free swimmers and I would be cautious about housing in a tank much smaller. I've read they enjoy being in a larger group but mine seem very happy with just the two. They keep themselves occupied with each other for the most part but will from time to time exhibit short bits of aggression towards others, mostly when there is food involved. They seem to get pretty bored with this quickly and move on. All things considered I like the fish. I would consider them a fairly heavy bio-load fish. The amount of food they can snarf down in a couple of seconds is amazing. You also will not have to worry about a snail problem with them, that's why I got them in the first place. Eradicated the snail population in no time.Thanks for that bit of information. I know swimming habits do matter. A 6' long tank can house more active swimmers than a cube aquarium of the same volume. Didn't think to take that into consideration.
The only issue with this is availability. Call me cheap or toss it up to any number of reasons, but I like to purchase my fish locally and I have not seen either of those available at the LFS or box chains. I will, however, see if I can get some YoYos custom ordered possibly! I've heard great things about them as well.
I'd say absolutely. Another variable to consider is how they're fed. Some folks will power feed their fish with the intent of getting them big, faster. Usually seen with headbusters like larger South American cichlids, pacu, arrowana, etc. getting a few meals a day, and two or three wc per week. I usually feed around three times a week. My tanks are all several years old so I figure there's enough to forage on in between feedings and my fishes' bellies stay nice and convex. I've kept a group of clown loaches that took about 7 years to get about 6 inches long, then traded them off for a group of S. petricola catfish....I started with 2 SAE and 5 clown loaches. I then added 10 Denison barbs and I saw the notification that my tank was overstocked and it has it at 110% already! Are clown loaches THAT big? I basically want to get some opinions on clown loaches. I don't think I'll be able to keep them into adulthood, but I should be able to house them for several years, right?...
Back when I worked at my LFS we had a long list of customers who'd asked us to keep an eye out for larger trade ins. Big fish were usually sold before they hit the tanks. You could probably get around $200 or more for a group of five, 6"+ clown loaches around here. A few fish were hard to sell large though. Pacus and arrowana come to mind, but that's a different level of "large". We'd usually give the pacus away to a good home. Big arowanas were valuable to the right person, but there wasn't a huge market for them. I had a customer try for a long time to find a home for his near 3' silver arowana before driving 4 hours to donate it to a public aquarium. He had industrial Velcro holding the tops on his tank. Its a shame those fish are sold as much as they are. A store nearby even sold Arapaima or the "monkey eater" fish. The store owner got upset with me when I asked him if he could order me feeder monkeys if I bought it! Not that I would, I was just giving him a hard time
I've had a pair(originally 3) yoyo loaches in a 125g tank for probably 6-7 years and they seem to have gotten as big as they are going to. They are about 5 inches and very robust. They are very free swimmers and I would be cautious about housing in a tank much smaller. I've read they enjoy being in a larger group but mine seem very happy with just the two. They keep themselves occupied with each other for the most part but will from time to time exhibit short bits of aggression towards others, mostly when there is food involved. They seem to get pretty bored with this quickly and move on. All things considered I like the fish. I would consider them a fairly heavy bio-load fish. The amount of food they can snarf down in a couple of seconds is amazing. You also will not have to worry about a snail problem with them, that's why I got them in the first place. Eradicated the snail population in no time.
Another bit of good information! I do have a 125 and plan on a bigger tank in the future as well. I don't, currently, have a snail issue. But it wouldn't hurt to have fish that enjoy taking care of that potential problem. Just more information to keep in mind. Thanks!
Very interesting! I do dislike that you can buy a dozen fish that grow to be 12"+ at every Petco/Petsmart and take them home to your 20g aquarium. I've seen a huge bala shark in a 10g tank. I don't think he could turn around. It's gross. I don't really feed all that excessively. I may even underfeed certain species as it turns out. I usually go by the coloration of the fish and see how much they can really scarf down while I'm sitting there feeding. Every fish I've ever had has shown amazing colors, so I just kind of wing it.I'd say absolutely. Another variable to consider is how they're fed. Some folks will power feed their fish with the intent of getting them big, faster. Usually seen with headbusters like larger South American cichlids, pacu, arrowana, etc. getting a few meals a day, and two or three wc per week. I usually feed around three times a week. My tanks are all several years old so I figure there's enough to forage on in between feedings and my fishes' bellies stay nice and convex. I've kept a group of clown loaches that took about 7 years to get about 6 inches long, then traded them off for a group of S. petricola catfish.
Back when I worked at my LFS we had a long list of customers who'd asked us to keep an eye out for larger trade ins. Big fish were usually sold before they hit the tanks. You could probably get around $200 or more for a group of five, 6"+ clown loaches around here. A few fish were hard to sell large though. Pacus and arrowana come to mind, but that's a different level of "large". We'd usually give the pacus away to a good home. Big arowanas were valuable to the right person, but there wasn't a huge market for them. I had a customer try for a long time to find a home for his near 3' silver arowana before driving 4 hours to donate it to a public aquarium. He had industrial Velcro holding the tops on his tank. Its a shame those fish are sold as much as they are. A store nearby even sold Arapaima or the "monkey eater" fish. The store owner got upset with me when I asked him if he could order me feeder monkeys if I bought it! Not that I would, I was just giving him a hard time
Ditto. Never go by the instructions on the food, it's more marketing than anything! I've had people tell me my poor fish must be starving, but they always appear very healthy. No sunken bellies, good color, etc. and less waste in the tank. I'm in no rush to speed up fish growth. It sounds like you aren't either which will let you enjoy the clown loaches even longer. Here's another vote to get them. They're very playful in groups and would love that six foot tankI don't really feed all that excessively. I may even underfeed certain species as it turns out. I usually go by the coloration of the fish and see how much they can really scarf down while I'm sitting there feeding. Every fish I've ever had has shown amazing colors, so I just kind of wing it.
Ditto. Never go by the instructions on the food, it's more marketing than anything! I've had people tell me my poor fish must be starving, but they always appear very healthy. No sunken bellies, good color, etc. and less waste in the tank. I'm in no rush to speed up fish growth. It sounds like you aren't either which will let you enjoy the clown loaches even longer. Here's another vote to get them. They're very playful in groups and would love that six foot tank
:grin2: I will do some research and settle on a school size. I have another fish I REALLY want to keep as well. However, that fish will probably determine the rest of the tank mates more than anything.
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