can koi betta live with clown loaches?

[r.alalix]

I have 2 tanks but recently i bought green puffers that needs salt water and i can't put the loaches with them. so, can i put the loaches with the betta?

 

[fishguy242]

Hi, welcome to the reef... :)
@shadow_k @tbrown @Mschmidt ?

 

[Rubymoon286]

It depends on the personality of the betta, but typically yes, clown loaches can go with bettas peacefully as long as the tank is large enough.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

PSA on Clown Loach size:

I've seen them over a foot.

Slow growers. I find they like flow, which is not really ideal for a betta. Clown loach tanks need a lot of filtration which is generally not a good habitat for a betta, who enjoys calm water.

 

[shadow_k]

It depends on the personality of the betta, but typically yes, clown loaches can go with bettas peacefully as long as the tank is large enough.

I agree , depends on your bettas personality I have my betta fish with 10 red eye tetras and 3 African dwarf frogs. And he doesn’t bother them.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Not an emergency, so please don't use the emergency tag. Thank you!

As far as the question, they are technically compatible, as in neither is likely to harm the other. However, clown loaches get big. Think over a foot long under the right conditions. Given that they also need to be kept in schools, I wouldn't recommend any less than a 125 gallon. A betta will be ok in such a large tank, but it will need lots of plants (either live or silk, avoid plastic) in order to provide cover. Some of these plants should go up near the surface as bettas, being anabantoids, need to breathe air. I will say that clown loaches need more flow than bettas, and more alkaline water, so while the combination is possible, I wouldn't really recommend it. Hope this helps, good luck!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have 2 tanks but recently i bought green puffers that needs salt water and i can't put the loaches with them. so, can i put the loaches with the betta?

While clown loaches dwell on the bottom, It is capable of shredding the betta's fins and Betta like low ph water whereas the loach is opposite
Those are Big boys

 

[Mschmidt]

what everyone else said. if the loaches are small, you might be ok. when they grow, find a more suitable tank mate. or it would be pretty easy to set up a 5g for the betta.

 

[tbrown]

I agree it depends on the Betta and the loaches. I've had clown loaches in with my female Betta previously in a community tank. The loaches left the Betta alone for th most part but it was a 110 with plants and lots of rock work.

I've also had Bettas in with shrimp and other smaller dither fish that the Betta destroyed.

It all depends on each fish.