henward Posted October 9, 2010 Report Share Posted October 9, 2010 Ok aros, 1inch a month is a good growth rate. With clown loachs, what is a good growth rate. Also tips on how to grow them fast and hard? I have purchased a school of 20 small clowns, started to school with 5 medium clowns. the smallone are currently 3 to 4 cms MAX, mediums are 6 to 8 max. Currently, the water params are as follows: 28 to 29c nitrates never higher than 20ppm *(thats at the peak) 90% of the time its on 10 to 12. After very heavy feeds goes up. Tank is 1200Litres. has an auto drip change system hence the constant nitrate levels and low levels. Temps never fluctuate more than 1c EVER due to ambient temps. that also fluctuates slowly. FEEDING: NLS Thera 1 as a staple and Beefheart/shrimp/fish paste mix was intended for discus, no more discus so now they eat it. They love it, bellies are always full. I had the school of small ones for 1 month now, in that time they grew about 1cm on average with heavy feeding and heavy filtrationa nd WC regime. Any ideas on how to grow them faster? what sort of growth rate is good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 9, 2010 Report Share Posted October 9, 2010 I thought you decided to be patient? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted October 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 haha yes of course but i mean in the best of my ability:D if i can grow them faster, why not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 You're doing all you can, clean water, big tank, good food. Can't ask for more than that really. Just be patient! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Unless you find a way to genetically engineer a new generation of clowns to grow faster I don't think you can grow them quicker than that... Sounds like you are already doing the best anyone could do.. What's up with this need for instant gratification Henward? Just let nature take its time and it'll get there... ONE STAR!!!! YEEEHAAAA!!! :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted October 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 haha ok i will have to settle for delayed gratification:D jsut making sure there isnt some secret clown loach trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 jsut making sure there isnt some secret clown loach trick If your group of clowns is an odd number, always feed an even number of pellets, and if it is an even number then feed an odd number of pellets. Always use Halal shrimp, and put all food in a cup on the ground and walk around it in a circle three times while chanting "maging mas mabilis kang mangmang!" before feeding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 If your group of clowns is an odd number, always feed an even number of pellets, and if it is an even number then feed an odd number of pellets. Always use Halal shrimp, and put all food in a cup on the ground and walk around it in a circle three times while chanting "maging mas mabilis kang mangmang!" before feeding. It's a trick! I tried this this afternoon and nothing happened. Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Must have got the pronunciation wrong, either that or you circled the cup of food in the wrong direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Would help if I had some clowns too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 halal shrimp hahaha :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 If your group of clowns is an odd number, always feed an even number of pellets, and if it is an even number then feed an odd number of pellets. Always use Halal shrimp, and put all food in a cup on the ground and walk around it in a circle three times while chanting "maging mas mabilis kang mangmang!" before feeding. mix pureed beefheart, body builders protien drink and steriods in a blender until it is a liquid then fill a 200ml syringe with the liquid place the syringe in mouth of clown loach and depress plunger be careful to not overfill each loach as they may pop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 And if they get feisty and try to spike you that mix can always be administered as a suppository. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfishybuisness Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 you try the streching method Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxxnz Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 hey guy these a great tips, i have to save them all to my note book.. hala shrimp i can pick them up from Sandeep shop tomorrow. :bounce: any1 want to share? I can bargin them for lowest pricing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted October 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 hahah thanks david i will try that:P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickey_1975 Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Hi, I have found with clown loaches that some will grow fast but others get stunted. This may be due to haveing a school of them and growth rates being suppressed by dominent group members. I would suggest smaller schools of similar sized fish and feed often with small amounts. High protein food is good for growth. I have 9 clown loaches all of similar age but a couple are only a 3rd the size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 That's not a bad idea there.. So you just get 19 more 1200L tanks.. put one clown in each and I bet you will see a slightly better growth rate!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 one of these may work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted October 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 thanks mark :oops: yeah, i dont have room for splitting, i have now 60 in total. 35 of which is small, 5 are medium, the rest are medium/large to xl large. I find that there is no shortage of food. wtih my feeding regime - they all get fat bellies. Very fat bellies, i was weary of that, but the big ones are not coming out yet and may take time to settle. i ensure there is plenty of food for them to feast on:D come on, thsi is me we are talking about!!! 8) they love the beef/shrimp/fish mince paste discus mix i made! they get really fat on that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Photo's? or a video? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 Hi, I have found with clown loaches that some will grow fast but others get stunted. This may be due to haveing a school of them and growth rates being suppressed by dominent group members. I would suggest smaller schools of similar sized fish and feed often with small amounts. High protein food is good for growth. I have 9 clown loaches all of similar age but a couple are only a 3rd the size. How big were your clowns when you got them? IMO anything under a 4' tank for clowns will stunt them fairly quickly, even at a small size when they appear "perfectly happy" in a smaller tank. Perhaps some of the ones you got had been sitting in the small tank at the shop for months but others had come in more recently? Genetics also plays a big part. We say clowns grow to 12", but that is like saying people grow to 6', when in reality that could be considered the usual but it can vary greatly. I doubt the growth of the smaller fish is being suppressed by the dominant fish, biologically it doesn't make sense for a schooling fish, and the growth I've seen on the 10 or so smaller clowns I've been growing out from a small size in my group of 30 certainly indicates that it isn't the case. If you aren't feeding enough food then obviously the smaller clowns will suffer, but with proper feeding and water changes it shouldn't be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 10, 2010 Report Share Posted October 10, 2010 thanks mark :oops: yeah, i dont have room for splitting, i have now 60 in total. 35 of which is small, 5 are medium, the rest are medium/large to xl large. I find that there is no shortage of food. wtih my feeding regime - they all get fat bellies. Very fat bellies, i was weary of that, but the big ones are not coming out yet and may take time to settle. i ensure there is plenty of food for them to feast on:D come on, thsi is me we are talking about!!! 8) they love the beef/shrimp/fish mince paste discus mix i made! they get really fat on that! Can't do any better tan that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookie Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 arent clown loaches renowned for their slow growth rate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 Yep, although IMO its a myth to a certain extent, from being kept in too small a tank. Ideally they should be started off in a 4' tank, then once they're about 3-4" they should be moved into at least a 6' tank. They are from fast flowing rivers and really need room to swim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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