Loaches Online Forum

Hey Katy, nice you remember me. I'm not much of a facebooker but do it sometimes. I think if the rostrata continues to behave itself there's no reason not to keep it. I have only kept striatas out of you loach bunch. Are they shy with the kubotais? They were more shy than the sids I kept with them b...

I guess I was thinking of airstones vs powerheads or even HOB filters, not venturi PHs, for better oxygenation

I have a 55g "riverish" tank (no manifold). I like my 75g much more for better scaping & water volume/foot print. I'm not sure of a 50 long size...

I only have sewllia lineolata for loaches these days, I have a powerhead half way down in 1 corner, no venturi air bubbles, too low to be effective. The loaches breed once a year for the last 6-7 years now, just a couple fry each time...but I'm good with that, no effort on my part.

Huh, that's interesting redshark. I haven't kept clowns or any botias lately...But it seems my loaches liked to play in the current sometimes. I had canisters & HOB filters to roil the surface for oxygen exchange. My non-venturi powerheads were placed lower so not so much for oxygen but for swimming...

Happy birthday to Obo, Athina & all your clowns!

Yes, there are many differences between the 2 genra. I kept sewellia lineolata & gastromyzon ctenocephalis with stiphon gobies (3 species) in a "river-ish" 55g 4ft tank. The sewellia breed once/year & a couple fry survive each time, the others have pretty much died out after 9 years...but I may stil...

If you're in the US try wet spot aquatics

My 6-7 inch clowns did not bother even 3 in clown plecos. I don't think you need to worry as long as everyone gets enough food & has enough hiding spots

I would suggest live blackworms if they're available to you. I haven't kept horse faced loaches but I introduced a blackworm colony into my river tank. 6-7 years later they're still some there if any fish want to try them. I haven't seen any fish eat them...

Well, the 55g is ok for a year or maybe 2 if you're very good about changing lots of water every week (30-80% is a goal). Young fish should probably be fed smaller amounts twice/day if you can...& can keep their water very clean. They will grow to 4-6 inches in that time, maybe 9-10+ inches eventual...

Mike, I remember meeting you at your Boston AS talk many years ago (12+ ?), a good 1...& you signed my Loach Book! I'm on the west coast now...but still into loaches! I believe you have to have a FB acct. & be approved by Mark to join. I'm not much of a social media person, Mark's site is kind of li...

Nice to see you! Many of us have gone to Mad Duff's (Mark Duffill) FB site Loach Fanatics. Hope to see you there sometime even if you don't have fish right now...you may come back to tanks & loaches again...you know you want them!

I very sorry your fish died. Sometimes bad stuff happens before we realize it & can do anything to help.

Do you have other loaches? What size tank & other fish do you have? I always take a "time out" with lots of water changes when something unexplained occurs.

What species is your loach? Yes, a pic might help.