If you’re looking into buying an aquarium for your home sometime soon, then you might be thinking of which fish to get for the tank. Most beginners will go with a freshwater tank since that’s going to be so much easier to learn how to take care of.
There are still going to be fish that will be delicate and those that will be hardy. Hardy fish are ones that are very beginner-friendly because they won’t die as easily.
You’ve likely heard that clown loaches are among the most common and popular freshwater fish to buy. After seeing them in the pet store, you might have your heart set on buying some for your fish tank.
Are clown loaches hardy, though? Would they be a good choice for a beginner who doesn’t have a lot of experience with aquariums?
Keep reading to learn just how hardy clown loaches are. It should help you to decide if purchasing clown loaches will be the right call for your first fish tank.
Clown Loaches Are Considered to Be Hardy
Clown loaches are indeed considered to be hardy fish. If you want to buy freshwater fish that will be easy to take care of, then you’ll be very pleased with clown loaches.
One of the best things about taking care of these fish is that they aren’t delicate. They’re actually very tolerant fish if you happen to make a few mistakes.
For the most part, clown loaches aren’t likely to die if you mess up once or twice. They can tolerate different pH balance levels in an aquarium nicely.
You can keep the pH balance in the tank between 6.0 and 7.5. This is a wide range that ensures that you won’t have to worry too much about having the levels fluctuate slightly.
They’re also not that demanding when it comes to water hardness. Clown loaches are known to tolerate water hardness levels between 8 and 12 kH.
The temperature of the water also has an easy range to remember. You just need to keep the temperature of the water between 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you want the temperature to be optimal, then it’s recommended to set it between 78 degrees Fahrenheit and 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Having such a wide range that the fish can tolerate will be convenient when putting these fish in community fish tanks, though.
Even if you’re not particularly confident about caring for fish, it’ll be simple enough to get good results with these fish. They’re among the best options for beginners because of how hardy they are.
What Do Clown Loaches Eat?
Feeding clown loaches won’t be difficult either. Clown loaches are omnivores, and this means that they can be fed a wide range of different products.
You’ll be able to get everything that you need to feed the clown loaches at your local pet store. Many people like to feed these fish what are known as sinking pellets.
Algae wafers are another common choice that clown loaches seem to love. It’s normal to see these fish looking around in the tank for leftover fish flakes that other fish in the community tank didn’t eat as well.
Some enthusiasts recommend giving clown loaches live food or frozen food as a snack. Freeze-dried brine shrimp will be a good choice, but clown loaches really love to eat live worms such as bloodworms.
You can feed the clown loaches once or twice per day. Try to avoid overfeeding the fish by feeding them only as much as they can eat in two minutes.
How Big Does the Fish Tank Need to Be?
If you want the clown loaches to be happy, then it’ll be better to give them more than enough space. These fish might be small at first, but they can grow to be fairly large.
Many clown loaches will grow to be ten inches long in adulthood. It makes sense that you’d need a bigger tank for these fish.
You should get a 75-gallon fish tank if you plan to keep clown loaches in your home. Even if they are small enough to live in a smaller tank at first, they will grow large enough to require a 75-gallon tank.
Some even say that it’d be better to buy a 100-gallon tank. What route you’ll want to take will likely depend on how much room you have in your home.
Decorate the Tank Well
Decorating the tank well will be a good idea when caring for clown loaches. These fish love to live in fish tanks that have hiding spots.
You should put aquatic plants in the tank that will give them places to hide. Also, you should ensure that the bottom of the fish tank has a sandy substrate.
It’s common for people to mix in small rocks and gravel to ensure that everything looks as appealing as possible. Your fish will appreciate being in an environment that feels as natural as possible.
How Long Will They Live?
With proper care, clown loaches can live for a really long time. If you’re keeping the water parameters in the right range and feeding the fish well, then they should live for many years in your aquarium.
Some wild clown loaches have been known to live as long as twenty-five years. This isn’t common for clown loaches in captivity, but it has happened.
Expect your fish to live for at least ten years if you’re doing a good job taking care of it. Poor water conditions have the potential to cut the lifespan of the fish short.
So long as you’re doing your best to follow the advice above, it’s very likely that your fish will survive for a long time. Just try to keep taking care of the fish and you’ll be able to continue enjoying them in your fish tank for years to come.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know that clown loaches are hardy, it’s going to be easy to move forward with purchasing them. If you’re new to keeping aquariums in your home, then you’ll have a good experience with clown loaches.
These are great fish that are sure to bring a bit of joy to your life. After reading the advice above, you’ll understand how to care for them properly, too.
Enjoy your fish to the fullest and try to keep them as healthy as you can. They’re hardy and can tolerate a few mistakes, but it’s still best to feed the fish well and monitor the water parameters.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.