I'd skip the clown loaches. They prefer water parameters that are the opposite of the cichlids. They are also very prone to Ick which can take over the whole tank.
Unlike the old days, ( I was there for them
) it's becoming more important to quarantine new arrivals as there have been new viruses and parasites that have developed in fish farms and have become medicine resistant. Many fish have internal issues that don't show up until the fish is stressed and shipping can be stressful on the fish. Then there are species that are just prone to diseases ( like the clown loach. ) Unless you are getting fish from people you know and know their fish are clean, be very careful.
It's been a bit since I was in Houston ( I had family who lived there) , can I ask the name of where you are shopping?
Okay, I missed that one.
Coming from AZ, I take the NE side of the circle (8) off of 290 to get to I-10 towards FL. or my cousin. I did look at some stores that had marine fish. I believe I was at Houston Aquatics, The Fish Bowl, FJW aquarium and All About Fish. Nice stores if I recall correctly ( I've been to a lot of stores around the country) but mainly marine fish. I may need to take a different route next time I'm in Texas.
Yeah, I looked it up on G Maps and saw there are a number of stores on that side of 8. I just never had a reason to go that way. My family is near Kemah now but lived in Houston proper before so coming from Florida, the Southwest side of all the circles ( 8, I-610, 99 ) was not really " on the way" to where we were going. Who knows when I will be back in Texas but when I am, I'm guessing I'll have to go a little further 'round the circles.
