Weather/dojo Loach

[Sheridanp]

I want to pick up one to turn over my sand for the aneurobic gases. My fish stats are in my sig, and my tank is 29 gallons. The temperature is around 24 degrees celsius. Is it alright to get one?

 

[mikev]

They are really a cold-water fish, not tropical: Dojos come from N.China and Korea.
Dojos will do better in an unheated tank with some current...

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

They are really a cold-water fish, not tropical: Dojos come from N.China and Korea.
Dojos will do better in an unheated tank with some current...

They are neither coldwater nor tropical fish but rather sub-tropical (temps usually between 18 and 22dgrees) .

 

[mikev]

This may depends on the exact species, but notice than Northern China or Korea are not exactly sub-tropical places. I saw reports about people keeping them in outside ponds in Scotland and Ontario, and there are now apparently wild dojos in some of US states (Oregon is one). Dojos are one of the toughest fish out there so they will take 18-22 (and even a tropical tank), but it is not clear it is good for them.

 

[Shelly_Otterkin]

I have a Dojo that has been in a tropical tank for 4 years, he is 6" long and vary heathy. I keep the tank at 78d and out of all my fish he is the best to watch. He is all ways out in the front of the tank and I often see him sitting in the corner of the tank "people watching".

 

[mikev]

You see, dojos are really tough. There are "funny" stories about their survival on the floor for hours. They will take a very wide range of conditions, from tropical tanks to winter in northern USA (or worse).

The question is if we should aim for the right conditions, and what are they exactly?

 

[Sheridanp]

Well, I want them to enjoy my tank. Will they be fine and live happily in a tropical tank?

 

[mikev]

This page from Loaches.Com
http/www.loaches.com/species_pages/wloach.html
may be of some use.

As per your question: it really depends on how much you want to make the right conditions. Most certainly, putting a Dojo into a tropical tank is not as bad as putting a, say, Borneo Sucker Loach; it will live and likely do ok. But in general if the conditions in the tank match the conditions in nature, you see more natural behavior from the fish, and it likely be healthier long-term.

(I'm looking at dojo's myself...as a small pond idea.)

 

[Shelly_Otterkin]

LOL that is the site that told me that Dojos do fine in tropical waters.

 

[Sheridanp]

I think I will be getting one. Thanks guys.

 

[Barracuda518]

It would be better if you could get more then one. They like to be in groups of 3 or more. I once had to seperate mine for a while and the one that was alone stayed hidden all the time. Once they were together again, they became very active again.

 

[TammyLiz]

I have a Dojo that has been in a tropical tank for 4 years, he is 6" long and vary heathy. I keep the tank at 78d and out of all my fish he is the best to watch. He is all ways out in the front of the tank and I often see him sitting in the corner of the tank "people watching".

Shelly, how big was he when you got him? I think they get to 12" and I was thinking of getting a few but the size was discouraging me from doing it. If they really do grow that slowly, I would probably go for it and get them a new tank in a year or two. I'd be putting them in a 24 inch tank.

Or could the slow growth be from the warm water? I was planning on putting mine in cold water if I got them.

 

[big mick]

Ive got them in my coldwater and tropical tank and both are fine. Its true about them being able to survive out of water for ages. When we had to catch ours he jumped out of the net, we couldnt find him anywhere and after 20 minutes it became a body search but we found him after over 20 mins, covered in hair and fluff still breathing.....he was under the unit.

After flaoting him in a bag for 30 mins he was back to usual.

 

[Nevergone815]

Shelly, how big was he when you got him? I think they get to 12" and I was thinking of getting a few but the size was discouraging me from doing it. If they really do grow that slowly, I would probably go for it and get them a new tank in a year or two. I'd be putting them in a 24 inch tank.

Or could the slow growth be from the warm water? I was planning on putting mine in cold water if I got them.

as far asw my research has gone they only get 9.8" MAX but will reach sizes of around 7-8" in most home aquaria.

i was doing research of my own... i want to set up a 75 gal coldwater/subtropical tank to put them in along with other coldwater/subtropical fish. (not sure if i want to make it coldwater or subtropical- that's why i put both)

 

[TammyLiz]

I don't know, nevergone, I was doing some more research online tonight and I was seeing quotes as large as 24", but noone who actually had one over a foot long. They must grow pretty slowly. I wonder how long they would live if given a chance.
A lot of people think clown loaches only get to 6", but that just because they don't care for them right. They should grow to 12" or more and live for decades. I suspect it is the same with weather loaches. They die young because they aren't given the ideal enviornment. I bet a small group would do well in a 75 gallon coldwater setup with a varied diet (bloodworms, veggies, etc.).