Tank size for dwarf chain loach

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fishguy122
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2014 11:37 am

Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by fishguy122 » Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:41 pm

Hello! I have a tank, 45x30x45cm, available. Would these loaches be okay in it? Do you have any suggestions on small loaches if they aren't okay? Cheers

The Angry Loach
Posts: 85
Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:03 am

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by The Angry Loach » Tue Jan 26, 2016 5:57 pm

This is a pretty small tank, all in all. About 15 or so gallons, if i calculated right. Loaches should be kept in small groups and with at least 5 fish sharing this small area, they won't be able to do much exercise or be too comfy. If I'm right about the measurements, I wouldn't personally keep much in that tank. Generally tanks this size are good for quarantine and nursery habitats. If you have some fish in there now, consider an upgrade to a larger tank in the near future so your fish have enough room to grow and live comfortably in a proper community. But, on the plus side, tanks this small are easy to keep clean and make for an easy tear-down if something goes wrong. It'll be easier to correct water balance issues or say even nematode out-breaks. I'd personally look into a 30gallon long tank. This will give the little guys more room to play and will allow a proper community set-up, so long as you don't over stock it. It will also mean easy clean and tear-down since it's not a 55 or larger tank. 20 gallons in the minimum tank size for these little critters, after all.
I liek feesh. And yes, I drew that xD

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NancyD
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Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:17 pm
Location: SF bay area,US

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by NancyD » Tue Jan 26, 2016 11:55 pm

Yep, that's a pretty small tank. I have kept rosy loaches & leptocephalithis furcata in a 20g long (30 x12 x 12 inches), Neither gets much bigger than an inch. Neither is commonly available.
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Greek
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:17 pm
Location: Krakow, Poland

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by Greek » Wed Jan 27, 2016 8:03 am

Definitely Your tank is too small. I would reccomend at least 70cm if You are experienced in keeping Botiidae, and 80cm long if not. What is also important - Sids are very gregarious and the minimum recommended is a group of 10 specimens.

MariBella
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 10:08 am

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by MariBella » Tue Feb 02, 2016 5:29 am

The Angry Loach wrote:This is a pretty good PhenQ review all in all. About 15 or so gallons, if i calculated right. Loaches should be kept in small groups and with at least 5 fish sharing this small area, they won't be able to do much exercise or be too comfy. If I'm right about the measurements, I wouldn't personally keep much in that tank. Generally tanks this size are good for quarantine and nursery habitats. If you have some fish in there now, consider an upgrade to a larger tank in the near future so your fish have enough room to grow and live comfortably in a proper community. But, on the plus side, tanks this small are easy to keep clean and make for an easy tear-down if something goes wrong. It'll be easier to correct water balance issues or say even nematode out-breaks. I'd personally look into a 30gallon long tank. This will give the little guys more room to play and will allow a proper community set-up, so long as you don't over stock it. It will also mean easy clean and tear-down since it's not a 55 or larger tank. 20 gallons in the minimum tank size for these little critters, after all.
So should you not keep more than 5 loaches in a tank as they like to be in a small group. Or can you keep more with a bigger tank. Maybe that would create 2 groups but also a turf war?
Last edited by MariBella on Sat Feb 26, 2022 3:43 pm, edited 8 times in total.

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atmichaels
Posts: 144
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Location: Detroit, Michigan USA

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by atmichaels » Tue Feb 02, 2016 6:37 am

MariBella wrote:
So should you not keep more than 5 loaches in a tank as they like to be in a small group. Or can you keep more with a bigger tank. Maybe that would create 2 groups but also a turf war?
As Greek said, a minimum of ten for these guys. So the answer here is a bigger tank. While they do establish a pecking order, they don't form separate groups so turf wars are unlikely. I had started with a small group of six but their behavior changed dramatically (for the better) after I doubled that. I'd recommend keeping at least a dozen together to see them at their best.

Austen

P.S. Welcome to the forum MariBella!

P.P.S. I'm now imagining an all-loach production of West Side Story with sids playing the Sharks and the Jets.snapping replaced with clicking, of course. (Ok, maybe I need more sleep) :wink:
Currently keeping: gastromyzon spp., hypergastromyzon humilis, pseudogastromyzon sp., sewellia spp., ambastaia sidthimunki, homaloptera spp., serpenticobitis octozona, Yaoshania pachychilus. As well as various catfish, loricarids, livebearers and tetras.

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zenins
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Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by zenins » Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:09 pm

I would suggest minimum 20 gallons, 30 would be best

Add a small powerhead about halfway on the end glass to give them some current to play in ;)
Zenin

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NancyD
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Location: SF bay area,US

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by NancyD » Fri Feb 05, 2016 10:28 pm

I kept a group of 10 sids in a 75g tank w/6 striatas & they grouped up in a surprising way. The "matriarch" 2 largest sid females lived at each end of a 4 ft tank along w 3 zebras & an even number or "lesser" sids (male?). There was no fighting & only some interaction at feeding times. I was surprised at this division of loaches but that was how they preferred it over 5 or 6 years. Both the dominate sid female & big female striatas kept to their own ends of the 4ft tank! I don't know if that was usual, just my experience with them.
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lucileburt
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Sep 05, 2017 3:45 pm

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by lucileburt » Wed Sep 06, 2017 12:42 pm

Can I have a SizeGenetics mystery snail and a dwarf chain loach?
I was wondering if the loach would eat the snail.
Update: Mystery/Apple snails don't self reproduce. That's why I want one.
Last edited by lucileburt on Sat Sep 09, 2017 2:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Diana
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Location: Near San Franciso

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by Diana » Fri Sep 08, 2017 9:01 am

lucileburt,

best to start your own thread.

Any Loach that will eat snails (many will) can pester the larger snails (apple, mystery...) until the snail is unwilling to come out of its shell.
Do not keep any snails with Loaches, except as food. I keep tossing pond snails into my tanks with Loaches as food for the Loaches.

The way you worded your question makes it sound like you want to keep a single Loach. Do not do this. Almost all Loaches are social fish, thriving in the company of others of the same species. Get a large enough tank to keep at least 5, (and double that is better) of most Loaches.

Apple and Mystery snails are different species. Do a little research and make sure you know what you are getting.
http://applesnail.net/
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.

Happy fish keeping!

somer234
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 1:24 am

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by somer234 » Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:49 am

Diana wrote:lucileburt,

best to start your own thread.

Any Loach that will eat snails (many will) can pester the larger snails (apple, mystery...) until the snail is unwilling to come out of its shell.
Do not keep any snails with Loaches, except as food. I keep tossing pond snails into my tanks with Loaches as food for the Loaches.

The way you worded your question makes it sound like you want to keep a single Loach. Do not do this. Almost all Loaches are social fish, thriving in the company of others of the same species. Get a large enough tank to keep at least 5, (and double that is better) of most Loaches.

Apple and Mystery snails are different species. Do a little research and make sure you know what you are getting.
http://applesnail.net/
I kept a group of 10 sids in a 75g tank w/6 striatas & they grouped up in a surprising way. The "matriarch" 2 largest sid females lived at each end of a 4 ft tank along w 3 zebras & an even number or "lesser" sids (male?). There was no fighting & only some interaction feeding times. I was surprised to see http://healthworldjournal.com/phen375-a ... ew-by-hwj/ this link on the weight loss at this division of loaches but that was how they preferred it over 5 or 6 years. Both the dominate sid female & big female striatas kept to their own ends of the 4ft tank! I don't know if that was usual, just my experience with them.

johnyjackson
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2018 5:12 am

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by johnyjackson » Fri Jul 13, 2018 5:14 am

somer234 wrote:
Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:49 am
Diana wrote:lucileburt,

best to start your own thread.

Any Loach that will eat snails (many will) can pester the larger snails (apple, mystery...) until the snail is unwilling to come out of its shell.
Do not keep any snails with Loaches, except as food. I keep tossing pond snails into my tanks with Loaches as food for the Loaches.

The way you worded your question makes it sound like you want to keep a single Loach. Do not do this. Almost all Loaches are social fish, thriving in the company of others of the same species. Get a large enough tank to keep at least 5, (and double that is better) of most Loaches.

Apple and Mystery snails are different species. Do a little research and make sure you know what you are getting.
https://www.legalanavarsteroid.com/cycle/
/
I kept a group of 10 sids in a 75g tank w/6 striatas & they grouped up in a surprising way. The "matriarch" 2 largest sid females lived at each end of a 4 ft tank along w 3 zebras & an even number or "lesser" sids (male?). There was no fighting & only some interaction feeding times. I was surprised to see https://www.diethealthsupplements.com/b ... energizer/ -a-factual-and-truthful-review-by-hwj/ this link on the weight loss at this division of loaches but that was how they preferred it over 5 or 6 years.
Both the dominate sid female & big female striatas kept to their own ends of the 4ft tank! I don't know if that was usual, just my experience with them.

johnyjackson
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2018 5:12 am

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by johnyjackson » Fri Jul 13, 2018 5:15 am

johnyjackson wrote:
Fri Jul 13, 2018 5:14 am
somer234 wrote:
Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:49 am
Diana wrote:lucileburt,

best to start your own thread.

Any Loach that will eat snails (many will) can pester the larger snails (apple, mystery...) until the snail is unwilling to come out of its shell.
Do not keep any snails with Loaches, except as food. I keep tossing pond snails into my tanks with Loaches as food for the Loaches.

The way you worded your question makes it sound like you want to keep a single Loach. Do not do this. Almost all Loaches are social fish, thriving in the company of others of the same species. Get a large enough tank to keep at least 5, (and double that is better) of most Loaches.

Apple and Mystery snails are different species. Do a little research and make sure you know what you are getting.
https://www.legalanavarsteroid.com/cycle/
/
I kept a group of 10 sids in a 75g tank w/6 striatas & they grouped up in a surprising way. The "matriarch" 2 largest sid females lived at each end of a 4 ft tank along w 3 zebras & an even number or "lesser" sids (male?). There was no fighting & only some interaction feeding times. I was surprised to see HGH GNC REVIEWS -a-factual-and-truthful-review-by-hwj/ this link on the weight loss at this division of loaches but that was how they preferred it over 5 or 6 years.
Both the dominate sid female & big female striatas kept to their own ends of the 4ft tank! I don't know if that was usual, just my experience with them.

NyellBarnet
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:48 am

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by NyellBarnet » Wed Sep 26, 2018 8:50 am

The Angry Loach wrote:
Tue Jan 26, 2016 5:57 pm
This is a pretty small tank, all in all. About 15 or so gallons, if i calculated right. Loaches should be kept in small groups and with at least 5 fish sharing this small area, they won't be able to do much exercise or be too comfy. If I'm right about the measurements, I wouldn't personally keep much in that tank. Generally tanks this size are good for quarantine and nursery habitats. If you have some fish in there now, consider an upgrade to a larger tank in the near future so your fish have sourceenough room to grow and live comfortably in a proper community. But, on the plus side, tanks this small are easy to keep clean and make for an easy tear-down if something goes wrong. It'll be easier to correct water balance issues or say even nematode out-breaks. I'd personally look into a 30gallon long tank. This will give the little guys more room to play and will allow a proper community set-up, so long as you don't over stock it. It will also mean easy clean and tear-down since it's not a 55 or larger tank. 20 gallons in the minimum tank size for these little critters, after all.
Hi So should you not keep more than 5 loaches in a tank as they like to be in a small group.
Or can you keep more with a bigger tank.
Maybe that would create 2 groups but also a turf war?
Last edited by NyellBarnet on Wed Jan 09, 2019 1:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Bas Pels
Posts: 360
Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2013 9:08 am

Re: Tank size for dwarf chain loach

Post by Bas Pels » Wed Sep 26, 2018 3:32 pm

Don't worry about that


If your tank is big enough to allow 50, you best keep them with 50.

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