Plecos and loaches

[Tilster17]

Hello all,

I have 2 mickey mouse, 4 red eyes, 1 yoyo loach, 1 pleco and then added 2 black mollies and 2 guppies in a 30gal. tank. My LPS told me to add aquarium salt (1 tblspn)
for the guppies and mollies. Will this salt hurt the pleco and loach?

I did read the salt is bad for their skin. I know don't believe everything you read.

Thanks for the respnonses.

JOe

 

[Erised]

Yes, this will be bad for your loach and plec. Also, guppies do not need salt. Mollies prefer water with a bad of salt in it, but will also be fine without it. There's a pinned topic in the catfish section on this forum about using salt with loaches/plecs and why you shouldnt do this, it might be interesting to read through

 

[wetwetwet]

Yep as said mate not recomended



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[Tempestuousfury]

Yup, not good for those fish.

Also, is that a common plec?

 

[Tilster17]

yes I believe it a common pleco(3" - 3.5" long). Well as luck would have it only 1 molly has survived my latest addition, so are you suggestioning don't buy mollies if I keep my loach and pleco or just dont' use the salt???

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Common plecs get to 15", far too bif for a thirty gallon tank. You're going to have to get rid of the pleco after a while, or move it. Might as well do this before you get attached, that way you can have your mollies if you move the loach, too.

 

[Tilster17]

the pleco I could do without but I like the loach and the mollies. HHHmmm what to do. My wife won't allow 2 tanks in the house - lol!!

 

[Tempestuousfury]

You could butter her up and explain that you require a 50 foot quarantine tank just in case something goes wrong.

I would say wait to see how the last molly does. If it dies, you shouldn't get others since they aren't suited to your tank.

It's best not to tamper with the water quality and just get fish that are suited to your water. Therefore I would suggest not getting mollies. However, if you have your heart set, then wait it out, like I said, though the mollies might not like it since they are brackish, to an extent.

 

[Tilster17]

alright thanks. I thought my loach was acting a little different now I know why.

No more SALT!!! unless for medicating!!

 

[The-Wolf]

yoyo loaches need to be kept in groups of 3 or four min
they can also get to 6" as adults.
Your tank is too small for them too.

 

[Tilster17]

Ok thanks, I guess I can get my mollies afterall............

 

[DannyBoy17]

I think common plecs are fine with salt? Just out of curiousity, does anyone know?