Dwarf Loaches?

[bunjiweb]

Thinking of getting a few for my new tank as they're very cute and my lfs has some in stock. Are they fairly hardy or would you reccomend adding others first?

Also i read they like a varied diet? Is this true or are they ok with the usual dried flakes?

Cheers

Ben

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Hey Ben

Very nice loaches. I am sure you have seen this already but anyways...

Are they the first fish you are adding to the tank? Most would add bottom feeders after (I think) so they have something to scavange. However, as these need to be fed in the own right you should be fine. Providing your levels are all ok.

These fish cannot eat flakes, as with most bottom feeders. Unless the flakes sink to the bottom but when there are top feeders, this is unlikely.

I feed my loaches and cories catfish pellets which sink to the bottom.

 

[RYO]

YOU WILL FIND LOACHES WILL EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ,BUT SHOW THEM SOME BLOODWORM OR BRINESHRIMP AND THERE WONT BE MANY FISH THAT WILL BEAT THEM TO DINNER.
A VARIED DIET IS BEST FOR ALL FISH, I SWITCH BETWEEN WORM, SHRIMP,FLAKE, DAPHNIA,CATFISH PELLETS AND ALGAE WAFFERS.
YOU CAN HEAR THE LOACHES SNAPPING THE WAFFERS ACROSS THE ROOM

 

[ryan]

I have two Chain Loaches (Botia sidthimunki), they are a great little fish always out and about and getting up to mischief. I only managed to get hold of two and I am looking for more, the larger the group the better. IME they are harder to keep than other Loaches, they need good water conditions with Ammonia and Nitrates at 0 and they need a good varied diet. Mine only took to Bloodworms at first but are slowly moving on to some high protien dried foods. I would snap them up while you have the chance because they are quite rare and hard to get hold of, best of luck.

Here is a of mine. I forgot to say they are near impossible to photo because they move so fast.

 

[bunjiweb]

Thanks for the response, I have seen the pellets apparently they like them alot.

I will take you guys advice and not add them first if they are bottom feeders i'd rather have them as happy bottom feeders with plenty of stuff to nible on.

Think im going to add danios first i guess.

Ben