Golden Sucking Loach Attack!

[Spacecloud]

HELP!!

I've had a Golden sucking loach for a couple of years now, he was first introduced to my cold water tank but he attacked the goldfish and managed to suck some of their scales off!! Anyway, because of this I moved him to my Tropical tank where he seemed perfectly happy and got on well with all the other fish.

However, about a week ago I brought 2 large Congo Tetras and they lasted less than 48 hours before they were attacked to death my this loach. I noticed he was being a bit aggresive in the morning but by the time I'd arrived home it was so bad that they were both on the verge of death with hardly any scales left.

Ever since then, the loach has started to be agressive with other fish in the tank especially my 10 year old Black Widow Tetra and my largest platy.

Are these loaches naturally aggressive?? Is there certain fish that they attack?? Do you think he will calm down or is it best to remove him from my tank?? Any advice will be appriciated.

Thanks

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons or litres is the tank, does he have plenty of hiding spaces.
Also stats would be good in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph.

 

[InaneCathode]

Its a chinese algae eater, sucking the scales/slime and eyes out of fish is what they do when they mature, like yours is. Take it back if you can, it wont get any better.

 

[Spacecloud]

Its only a 55 litre tank, there are a few places to hide but he's been fine up until now which seems strange.

All water tests are reading fine

Do you think he would be better in larger tank??

 

[WILDER]

Yes the tank is way to small for him and that's why he's turned agressive, proven that with adding the congo tetra whch the tank was to small for them as well, he dosn't want anymore fish in the tank.

Black widow tetra need a least a 20gal tank.

 

[InaneCathode]

Although i agree its probably too small of a tank, even in a larger tank it could be a problem.

 

[WILDER]

It could be a problem, but a bigger tank he might settle down again, if he has plenty of his own space and hiding spots.

 

[Spacecloud]

Ok thanks for all your advice. I think I'll move him to a 6ft community tank at college, plenty big enough and loads of places to hide.

The black widow tetra seems happy enough in the tank, he's my oldest fish so i'm very protective of him!!

I'd love a bigger tank, but there just isn't anymore space in out house to get one

 

[InaneCathode]

Ok thanks for all your advice. I think I'll move him to a 6ft community tank at college, plenty big enough and loads of places to hide.

The black widow tetra seems happy enough in the tank, he's my oldest fish so i'm very protective of him!!

I'd love a bigger tank, but there just isn't anymore space in out house to get one

Good luck
Keep us posted on how he acts in the big tank, i'm curious.

(now taking bets on lost eyeballs lol)

 

[alexdallimore]

When I purchased my tank 3 of GCAE's came with it. I didn't know what they where to start with so posted to find out. After finding out the fish shop took them from me as they can be really aggressive. What I found out was that when they are young they will eat algea. As they matured they crave more food and the algea isn't enough. They then latch on to slowed moving fish and suck away at its slime coat. They are also known to suck away eyes too.

I asked the LFS who would want them. His reply was that some people just want them but they really arn't good for a peaceful tank. He suggested that if anything the only fish they can be mixed with as adults are cichlids as they are aggressive enough to fight it off it it tried to attack.

This is what I learnt but some of it maybe false as I know nothing about Cichlids.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I would agree with those posters who have suggested that CAEs do not really make good community fish. It is not just about him being stressed, but about the kind of fish they are. Better for a species tank really.

 

[Spacecloud]

Well...I put him in the big tank today, he looked absolutly lost coz he's only about 2" and tanks huge. It's a large 'community tank' although there are some tiger barbs and a couple of small chiclids in there too. The chiclids instantly went for him but left him alone after a few minutes.

I won't know how he's doing now until Monday!!

Btw he didn't suck any eyeballs out when he was in my tank but he did remove practically all the scales from my congo tetras so we'll see how it goes in his new home!!

 

[alexdallimore]

At 2inches he is still a young fish, it's when he gets to adult size about 4-5inches that the problems apparently really start as algea just isn't enough. My book says they tend to go for slow moving deep bodied fish when they do.

 

[sek]

I've had the same problem. The pet store I bought two golden loaches from told me that they'd be fine with Gouramis. In the past 6 days I've lost 4 gouramis in total as well as Tiger Snail. I've had to move the 2 loaches into their own tank. The Bin-Laden's of the aquarium world (They terrorize all the other tank residents).

 

[trop_fish_rule]

I got two GCAE and only 1 wos agresive so i took it back. the other one is fine-do you think it will become aggresive to?