Loaches

[randallhart]

Can various loaches be mixed together in a 55 gallon tank. Not clown loaches of course. Loaches like skunks and yo yo loaches.
Right now i have a skunk loach(which was $3.99 BARGAIN) and they also had other various loaches at the fish store. Like tigers and yo yo's. so i was wondering if it would be ok to mix a couple or stick with simply skunk loaches.

 

[Chuka1212]

I don't know if it is recommended or not, but I have done it with koolie and horsefaced loaches and they were fine. My friend has also put a chain loach, yo-yo, and one other type of loach together. So I think that as long as you have the space for multiple bottom feeders, you would be just fine in mixing loaches.

 

[The-Wolf]

the best loaches to mix with skunks Yasuhikotakia morleti are others from the 'sun' group of loaches
they are
Yasuhikotakia caudipunctata
Yasuhikotakia eos
Yasuhikotakia lecontei
Yasuhikotakia longidorsalis
Yasuhikotakia modesta
& Yasuhikotakia splendida

loaches from the 'tiger' group may work but they are much larger fish and may outgrow your tank
the tiger group are
Syncrossus beauforti
Syncrossus berdmorei
Syncrossus helodes
Syncrossus hymenophysa
& Syncrossus reversa

 

[randallhart]

the best loaches to mix with skunks Yasuhikotakia morleti are others from the 'sun' group of loaches
they are
Yasuhikotakia caudipunctata
Yasuhikotakia eos
Yasuhikotakia lecontei
Yasuhikotakia longidorsalis
Yasuhikotakia modesta
& Yasuhikotakia splendida

loaches from the 'tiger' group may work but they are much larger fish and may outgrow your tank
the tiger group are
Syncrossus beauforti
Syncrossus berdmorei
Syncrossus helodes
Syncrossus hymenophysa
& Syncrossus reversa

Thanks everyone. The-Wolf: I wish our fish store did have at least half of those species to pick from.

 

[CrashingWaves]

From my experience, skunk loaches are kind of the devil of the loach species. I've only kept them once, and I've heard similar reports from other people.

As for which loaches I've had no problem keeping together in a community tank, I had these all in a tank together at one point.

Clown Loaches
Zipper Loaches
Burmese Border Loaches
Kuhli Loaches


Other than that I've basically kept them in more species tanks, or, had them at different times.

 

[The-Wolf]

The-Wolf: I wish our fish store did have at least half of those species to pick from.

as do I. it is so hard to find many of the unusual loches and when you do they are at silly prices

From my experience, skunk loaches are kind of the devil of the loach species. I've only kept them once, and I've heard similar reports from other people.

oddly enough I do refer to skunks as the spawn of Satan.
they can be very aggressive to other fish but IME do well with others from the sun group.
I currently have one skunk (last of 6 ) with 7 Yasuhikotakia modesta and he is kept at the bottom of the hierarchy by them.

 

[CrashingWaves]

Well I had a couple skunk loaches at one point, and they were absolutely horrible to the other fish in my tank. At the time I didn't know much about them, and if I had I probably would've have gotten them in the first place, but, live and learn right?

God Bless,
Joshua

 

[CKutz]

is it ok if i bring this post back to life? haha

i have a similar question..its not specified what numbers of each will be kept.
i've been wondering..since loaches like to be in schools but i like various loaches...could i keep a group of 5 or 6, but have like 2 yoyo, 2 zebra, 2 kubotai (they get a bit bigger i think, but look so similar)? or just 3 yoyo 3 zebra before i had kubotai, and they were so outgoing i think just about anyone on the bottom strata could easily join their group haha. they sure didn't mind the chinese algea eater. i think it sounds resonable, and someone else mentioned it would be ok, i just thought i'd ask in a more appropriate section.

 

[loachman]

is it ok if i bring this post back to life? haha

i have a similar question..its not specified what numbers of each will be kept.
i've been wondering..since loaches like to be in schools but i like various loaches...could i keep a group of 5 or 6, but have like 2 yoyo, 2 zebra, 2 kubotai (they get a bit bigger i think, but look so similar)? or just 3 yoyo 3 zebra before i had kubotai, and they were so outgoing i think just about anyone on the bottom strata could easily join their group haha. they sure didn't mind the chinese algea eater. i think it sounds resonable, and someone else mentioned it would be ok, i just thought i'd ask in a more appropriate section.

IME with groups of 3 species of botia in a 75 gal, there is not much interaction between species.

Odd yours got along with a CAE. I had one with my original yoyo (before upgrading and expanding the groups), and they fought like crazy.

 

[CKutz]

is it ok if i bring this post back to life? haha

i have a similar question..its not specified what numbers of each will be kept.
i've been wondering..since loaches like to be in schools but i like various loaches...could i keep a group of 5 or 6, but have like 2 yoyo, 2 zebra, 2 kubotai (they get a bit bigger i think, but look so similar)? or just 3 yoyo 3 zebra before i had kubotai, and they were so outgoing i think just about anyone on the bottom strata could easily join their group haha. they sure didn't mind the chinese algea eater. i think it sounds resonable, and someone else mentioned it would be ok, i just thought i'd ask in a more appropriate section.

IME with groups of 3 species of botia in a 75 gal, there is not much interaction between species.

Odd yours got along with a CAE. I had one with my original yoyo (before upgrading and expanding the groups), and they fought like crazy.

yea they seemed to get along..the CAE would get a little pested by them on occasion, but there was this one ornament that they would hide under, and they would lay side by side...when i would put in pellets or wafers the algae eater would be trying to eat and the kubotai would swim all under him and over him, waiting to get at the food. it could have been cause they were all young though, but it was pretty funny to watch.

so i shouldn't get a split group then, just get all of one? i'm trying to figure it out, cause i could get to kubotai for free! but i don't really want a whole group of 5, 5" loaches.

 

[mrbudgie]

The-Wolf: I wish our fish store did have at least half of those species to pick from.

as do I. it is so hard to find many of the unusual loches and when you do they are at silly prices

From my experience, skunk loaches are kind of the devil of the loach species. I've only kept them once, and I've heard similar reports from other people.

oddly enough I do refer to skunks as the spawn of Satan.
they can be very aggressive to other fish but IME do well with others from the sun group.
I currently have one skunk (last of 6 ) with 7 Yasuhikotakia modesta and he is kept at the bottom of the hierarchy by them.

Well I had a couple skunk loaches at one point, and they were absolutely horrible to the other fish in my tank. At the time I didn't know much about them, and if I had I probably would've have gotten them in the first place, but, live and learn right?

God Bless,
Joshua

skunks are little gits think i have got 6 or 7 sniffing aroung in my 6ft, the only way I have managed to keep these is by keeping them in bigger groups then they spend so long chasing and annoying each other the other fish get some piece and quite...

 

[LongS]

I have a similar question to CKuts. I have a single zebra loach and wanted some pals for him.

Just wanted an interesting mix of species so i wondered what kind of loaches would be advised to keep with zebras?

was thinking Pakistan loaches myself. Any more suggestions would be wonderful.



Longshlong

 

[mrbudgie]

more zebras ( some places call em candy stripe loaches) or clowns with zebras if you got space

 

[LongS]

I think the clown loaches would get too big too quick for me.

I would have to rehome them and i don't really like doing that.

I am really interested in the loaches and other bottom dwellers. Does anybody have experience in keeping Zebras with other types? im quite interested in peoples own opinion on the matter.

Again shame about the Clowns.

 

[mrbudgie]

zebra loaches are one of the easiest and least maintenance loaches you can get and got well will all other fish and bottom dwellers