Weather/dojo Loach

[Captain Retardo]

I have just read up on Weather loaches and knowing their behavior I want them even more! But I am trying to hold myself in because I don't believe that I could house one at the moment: (BTW My LFS has the Cobitis variety so it only gets 4 inches or so) I have a 30 gallon aquarium and it is basically fully stocked (look in my profile) I will be getting rid of one of the male Bolivians (giving it to a friend) But even with that, I don't think I have enough room for a weather loach, although I would like reasurrance from you guys. But I do have an empty 10 gallon that I will probably setup soon, and I was wondering if I could keep 1 Weather loach in there with nothing else, assuming I did frequent water changes (I do water changes at 30% a week)

Again I would like to say my LFS has the Cobitis specie of Weather Loach so it only gets to about 4 inches in size.


Man, I feel like a real beginner right now...

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

I always thought weather loaches prefered cooler temps so not sure if it would be suitable for the tropical tank. They are very social so get a minimum of 3 if you get any they would probably be too active to live in the 10 gal.

Emma

 

[Captain Retardo]

My tank would have been an unheated one.

I didn't know weather loaches were social, actually I read from Loaches Online that they were actually not social...

http/www.loaches.com/species_pages/wloach.html
Look at the post made by Clyde Kase. A lot of other people have single loaches and apparently their loaches live long and are very happy.

Just want to be clear on if they are social or not...

 

[highfire]

I have had two weather loaches in my freshwater tank, but not at the same time. My current loach is much the same as my first in temperament - totally peaceful with his tank mates, and no trouble atall.
I love him to bits, and he's a real character.
My tank is typically around 22oC, and both loaches seem to have been perfectly happy in there.
I have been told that they can grow quite large - the chap in my LFS was saying only yesterday that his mother has one that is about 5" long and quite thick in the body.

 

[sylvia]

I'd certainly not put one in a 10 gallon. I feel even a 20 gallon is not suitable for their activity levels but the cobitis, because it's smaller, would be ok. In terms of their being social, I think they are - but they can exhibit quite anti-social behaviour if the group isn't large enough. I still wouldn't keep just one alone - if not because they are social, simply because they are much more interesting in a group. I kept a bunch in a 40 gallon for a while (it was a species tank and was not of typical dimensions so it was very long and wide but not very tall - unfortunately it cracked and the loaches had to be re-homed as I didn't have a suitable cool tank at the time to move them into) and it was very fun to watch.

 

[vancouver]

I had a couple in a 10g with sand for awhile... they just hid in the sand all the time... really weren't active at all...

not sure if I had a different species.. mine were just really calm.