Loaches For 55 Gal Planted Tank

[TammyLiz]

I have never owned a loach before and am considering getting some for my new 55 gallon planted tank. I was also considering a synodontis but they chased me away in that forum because apparantly 55 gallons isn't big enough. It currently has 5 three spot gouramis and I will be getting a school of something probably rosy barbs. I had my eye on zebra loaches because I hear they stay smaller. Today I talked to the girl who does orders at the LFS and she said they have been unable to order any lately because they haven't been available. While I was there I noticed they had two small queen loaches, very cute. So I read on loaches.com (a great site) about them and they don't seem so convinced that they get very big, either. Is this true? So many times people assume something doesn't get big because it dies before it grows to full size. I just wondered if anyone here has one that is too big for a 55 gallon tank. Also, these two at the LFS were chasing each other away. Is two a bad number? I heard that they like groups so wasn't sure why they wouldn't like each other. I could also go for cories but those zebra loaches are just so cute with their longer bodies and cute stripes. The queens are cute, too.

 

[Gourami Lover88]

I keep skunk loaches with my gouramis. They do fine and once the loaches get settled they will often cruise the bottom like cories.
But loaches need alot of hidding spots because the bigger ones will claim an entire rock or flower pot for themselves and chase any other loaches away. And those hidden spines can do alot of damage

 

[TammyLiz]

I keep skunk loaches with my gouramis. They do fine and once the loaches get settled they will often cruise the bottom like cories.
But loaches need alot of hidding spots because the bigger ones will claim an entire rock or flower pot for themselves and chase any other loaches away. And those hidden spines can do alot of damage

I've heard these are much more aggressive than other loaches. My LFS does stock them from time to time and has one in stock as of yesterday, but only one. I am sure the gouramis can take care of themselves but I am thinking about the plants and the barbs. Is your gourami/loach tank planted, and if so, do the loaches bother the plants? Do you think they would nip the barbs? How big are yours?
I love being able to talk to someone who has something before I get it. This forum is great.

Tammy

 

[mikev]

I've heard these are much more aggressive than other loaches.

Hi Tammy,

Remember those Odessa's in my lfs mentioned on another thread?

They spent about a week at the store with these little monsters for roommates. At the end of the week, not a single was undamaged -- fins were badly ripped. (this is why I waited so long to get more Odessa's...they looked pretty bad)

I'm not sure if skunks are the worst loaches to have...but they are certainly strong contenders for the title.

HTH

 

[TammyLiz]

Yes, I was afraid this would be the answer. I certainly do not want my tank to be a war zone, or worse, a slaughtering ground where the barbs don't have a chance! Am I wrong, though, to think that not all loaches would be too aggressive for the barbs? I thought I had heard of people keeping smaller loaches with barbs with no trouble, but atm can't think of a particular situation.
Right now, my plans to stock my tank have been put on hold because my biological filter has been destroyed! Not sure exactly what is going on but I posted in the emergency section for some help! Very dissappointed because I was thinking it would be about time to add some more stock. However, this is only a temporary setback and shouldn't prevent me from deciding what I want to add later.
So, are barbs OK with loaches?

 

[Gourami Lover88]

I never had a problem with my skunk loaches, maybe they where to busy playing with each other to notice any other fish. And the never uprooted or ate any off plants either.

Loaches Online has lots of info on other loaches if your apprehensvie with skunks.

 

[mikev]

Yes, I was afraid this would be the answer. I certainly do not want my tank to be a war zone, or worse, a slaughtering ground

Well, nobody was killed asaik, but the damage was heavy. Skunks are most certainly fin-rippers to start with...

So, are barbs OK with loaches?

Generally, yes, but there are exceptions always....

On the Barb side, Tigers are more aggressive.
On the Botia side, there are several semi-aggressive species, like Modesta or Tiger.
(these examples of the category "things may go wrong", unlike the skunks which is of "things will probably go wrong").

Gourami Lover88 is imho very lucky...Gouramis are slower moving fish with big fins, this may attract the attention of some playful generally peaceful loaches (happened in my tank).

 

[TammyLiz]

I never had a problem with my skunk loaches, maybe they where to busy playing with each other to notice any other fish. And the never uprooted or ate any off plants either.

Loaches Online has lots of info on other loaches if your apprehensvie with skunks.

Gourami Lover88 is imho very lucky...Gouramis are slower moving fish with big fins, this may attract the attention of some playful generally peaceful loaches (happened in my tank).

I see the risk here esp. with the skunk loaches and want to be as careful as possible. I think the best thing to do would be to get some zebra loaches but I have no idea where to get them from. Ordering them online would be a bit out of my price range because of the shipping. I will have to just keep an eye out for them. If they don't show up anywhere I might settle for cories. Those queen loaches were so cute, though. Is there anyone here that has them? I would like to know for sure that they wouldn't work before ruling them out.

 

[mikev]

They (Darios) probably will work; everyone who has them seems to be very happy.

Read this thread:
http/www.loaches.com/species_pages/botia_dario.html

(I have not seen them in the stores around here, otherwise I'd have them already...)

 

[TammyLiz]

Oh, I am so bummed my tank is not ready! I would be going as soon as they opened in the morning to see if they were still there and snatch them up if they were. I haven't seen them there before this. Hopefully they will be able to get some more later. I need to stay away from the store until my tank is ready or I'll be too tortured by any missed chances.

 

[lljdma06]

What about Botia striata? From what I've read on the internet and books, it seems an ideal loach for those with smaller tanks. I plan on getting a small shoal of about 5 for my 36g planted. They are quite active and peaceful. Unless their personalities have change since Baensch wrote his book, they might be the loach for you.

 

[mikev]

Oh, I am so bummed my tank is not ready! I would be going as soon as they opened in the morning

Both Dario and Odessa's are relatively uncommon species. I wonder what else your store has.

---

What about Botia striata?

It is the official name of the Zebra loach!

 

[TammyLiz]

Both Dario and Odessa's are relatively uncommon species. I wonder what else your store has.

They did have a lot of interesting things in there this week. There was also a horse loach, and there were some blue tetras, which I was impressed with. And they were only $2. Not sure how much the horse loach was because it was labled as a kuhli loach. Same size as one but it was definately a horse loach. It has been a very good store since I started visiting it a couple months ago. They have as many marine fish, too. SO beautiful, but I would never be able to afford a marine setup.

 

[TammyLiz]

I think I was wrong about the horse faced loach. I was doing some relaxing saturday morning browsing and found a picture that looked much more like the loach I saw in the LFS the other day.

http/www.loaches.com/species_pages/parabotia_fasciata.html

There was a slight difference in that the stripes didn't look quite so pronounced but it could have been stressed as it was alone...it was hiding behind a sticker on the glass so I didn't get a good look at his mid section. I remember the girl who does the orders saying they had "botia loaches" available that they could order, which sounded like the most bogus name I have ever heard. This may be what she was refering to.

 

[mikev]

Yeah, sounds like a good store...

IMHO, given that you *generally* don't want only one botia of most kinds, you probably should not be interested in the "horse", unless you know exactly what this is.