Clown Loaches

[Tom Barr]

I think they are worthy of setting up a specific scape and design for them alone. Plenty of other suitable fish can be added as well.

regards,
Tom Barr

[blue_martian]

I can't say much about clown loaches but I thought I'd take a quick second to warn anyone not already aware of the effects of a weather loach on the planted tank.

I have a beautiful weather loach that is now a full adult (maybe 7 inches or so), absolutely love this guy has a very interesting personality but have found out weather loaches love to dig into the substrate. And not just a little bit... this guy will burrow down 2 inches and have it's entire body underneath the substrate.

Try planting new plants with that guy around, he can even dig underneath the rocks I place around my new plants to prevent him from uprooting them.

[sanj]

Maybe for a while, some years, but eventually full grown mature specimens are probably not going to let you have a lovely planted tank. People who have kept these guys and I mean for years and they are above 8-10" more often than not appear to have real problems keeping plants even the likes of Java fern for long. Emma Turner is pretty well known in the Loach keeping world and having spoken with her partner(they have 35+ loaches in one big system), some plants survive (not thrive) for a little while until the occupants decide to re decorate. I love these loaches, but i think that eventually it is a question of planted tank or clown loach tank and very unlikely both.http://www.loaches.com/species-index...a-macracanthus