Clown loach export bans upheld




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Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) is to maintain laws banning the export of Clown loaches above 15cm/6” to protect vital brood stocks. That’s the size at which Clowns are thought to start spawning.


Traditionally, some 20 million Clown loaches are exported from Indonesia every year, all wild harvested. At this time, and despite some unfounded reports of hormone-induced breeding, no successful farming has yet taken place with this species.

Current collection methods involve lengths of hollowed bamboo lowered into habitats and the fish congregate inside them. When removed from the water, the loaches stay put and can be removed.

This technique and subsequent trade of the fish has created income for many families throughout the region, many of whom now rely upon it.

I'm going to start doing some research on these cute guys. I may have to add some to my 75g when i get it set up.

I have really began to love my clown loaches.

would they do ok in a tank with goldfish and panda corys?

I have 2 in with my Peacocks and they are doing great, growing steadily. They have plenty of character, and make that great "tocking" sound when excited and eating as they bite their food.

I love clown loaches! But had no idea they were all wild caught. :-/ That would explain why death rates are so high among those under two inches.

You know, I was just thinking about purchasing a small one to transfer from tank to tank in order to eat all of my extra pond snails. Will they root up/destroy mosses?

Just read a couple articles on them. Won't work with soft plants - even when small. Well, good luck to those of you with suitable community aquariums. I'll just have to enjoy the pics.

They might. They also don't do well kept singly and get stressed anytime they're moved. Look in to maybe a yoyo loach(Botia almorhae) or queen burmese(Botia kuboti). Both eat snails and are safer for your plants, very attractive, and much hardier than the clown loach. All loaches do best kept in schools but the clowns really do require it. Yoyo's seem to be the easiet to adapt to not being in a school. They're like the happy puppies of the fish world. Good food, clean water, and nice tankmates and they're happy. Oh, and while some loaches, like the clowns, are notorius for uprooting plants(I never had a problem with it though but kept them in groups of 8) all loaches will to an extent if you malaysian trumpet snails that burrow. Here's a link to my favorite sight for loaches. Pretty much any of the Botia species will devour snails but some are rather aggressive.

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/species-index

thanks for the link. I'm going to check it out cause i'm certainly interested in them. i don't have to worry about plants as i use only artificial. i can't even keep a house plant alive!

Don't feel bad! I do good with aquarium plants but I couldn't even grow dandelions if I wanted to. I've got a container garden trying to grow peppers and tomatoes and my brother feels sorry for my plants. Lol

I've been thinking of attempting some live plants when I get my 75 up and running but I'm going to start with the easy stuff. Just got to figure out which plants those are. lol.