Horseface loaches and root tabs? And some general questions.
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 5:15 am
Hi there to all the loach caretakers,
I have two juvenile (about 3.5 inches) horseface loaches along with some other community fish in a 55 gallon aquarium, and I have a few questions:
1. Is two enough for them to be happy? Aqadvisor.com tells me that horseface loaches should be in groups of at least three in order to be content. I had two in another aquarium years ago, and they seemed to love each other--curled around each other at times. These two never seem to be together at all.
2. How long can they be okay in a 55-gallon tank with sand substrate? Will they need a larger tank as they grow bigger, and what is the cutoff on size for their health and happiness?
3. My tank is moderately planted, and the plants are looking a little sad lately. I would like to use some root tabs, but I worry about harming burrowing loaches. Many of the plants have rhizomes and won't need root tabs, so I could use the tabs sparingly, in only some parts of the tank, but I don't want to use them at all if they will harm my loaches. Is it safe to use any kind of root tabs with horseface loaches who might burrow near or into them? I have osmocote tabs but could get other types if there is a safer type.
4. My loaches usually eat regular flake food that falls to the bottom of the tank, and algae wafers. I occasionally put raw vegetables in the tank. Is there anything else I should be doing for them? I love these little guys.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.
I have two juvenile (about 3.5 inches) horseface loaches along with some other community fish in a 55 gallon aquarium, and I have a few questions:
1. Is two enough for them to be happy? Aqadvisor.com tells me that horseface loaches should be in groups of at least three in order to be content. I had two in another aquarium years ago, and they seemed to love each other--curled around each other at times. These two never seem to be together at all.
2. How long can they be okay in a 55-gallon tank with sand substrate? Will they need a larger tank as they grow bigger, and what is the cutoff on size for their health and happiness?
3. My tank is moderately planted, and the plants are looking a little sad lately. I would like to use some root tabs, but I worry about harming burrowing loaches. Many of the plants have rhizomes and won't need root tabs, so I could use the tabs sparingly, in only some parts of the tank, but I don't want to use them at all if they will harm my loaches. Is it safe to use any kind of root tabs with horseface loaches who might burrow near or into them? I have osmocote tabs but could get other types if there is a safer type.
4. My loaches usually eat regular flake food that falls to the bottom of the tank, and algae wafers. I occasionally put raw vegetables in the tank. Is there anything else I should be doing for them? I love these little guys.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.