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Keeping small tetras with clown loach: a safe combination?

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2022 2:06 pm
by tetraTim
Since I got a bigger tank I now have only my 7 clown loach and 5 blue botia in the 6ft with a couple of oddball grow outs and intend to set it up for discus with corys and tetras

However I would like to keep the loaches in there rather than put them in with my bigger fish. The loaches range from 5-7" and are a greedy bunch but I wonder.. are they predatory if I got say 40 cardinals or rummy nose? I havent kept smaller fish for years so can't recall

Re: Keeping small tetras with clown loach: a safe combination?

Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2022 4:17 pm
by Bisco
Since all my loaches are still relatively small (3" +), I can't say what larger ones would do with small tetras. However, I have a 75g where a group of 4 clown loaches, 12 neons and 10 Colombian tetras have been part of a planted 'community' for about 2 years (yes, I now geographically incorrect). I have not lost a single neon.
In another tank I have 2 more clown loaches in another planted community with black phantom tetras. No loses.
In a quarantine tank I have 4 blue red tail loaches (2-3") with guppy fry. I can't count the fry, but I don't believe I am losing any.
But some loaches can get quite large, and that is beyond my experience.