Loaches Online Forum

Chlorine levels can vary in city water. Sometimes the city will use a higher amount of chlorine to flush the system so it is best to use a water conditioner with every change. It is also a good idea to have a good test kit and monitor the tank so you can quickly respond to dangerous levels of ammoni...

Ok, before finding this site, we got in the dilemma of getting 2 clowns for a 55 gal. (with 12 black neons). Easily hooked on these characters, we decided we would get a 6-foot tank once the weather is warm enough for my husband to comfortably make a stand in his workshop. Making this commitment, we...

Whatever you do, don't make my mistake and get a Chinese Algae Eater. They are often sold as just a unnamed algae eating fish. After bringing one home I found that the fish can grow to 12 inches and as it matures, it stops eating algae and tries to suck on fish. I'm still trying to figure out what t...

I just got the catalog from Petsolutions.com and looked at the write-ups on the fish they sell. According to them: Clown loaches get up to 6 inches and need at least 30 gallons. Chinese algae eaters need 25 gal and are peaceful community fish. At least they suggest 30 gal for a goldfish--but the rea...

Thank you all for your comments. I have gravel in the tank so I need to vacuum but I'll try to leave them a hiding place and rotate the areas I clean. I have sand in my African cichlid tank but it was such a pain to wash the sand at setup that I went with gravel in this tank. The decision to put loa...

When you clean your tank, how do you handle cleaning the caves and hiding places for your loaches? I hate to disturb them but I should move the rocks and their favorite plastic cave to vacuum. Any good way to do this?

Thank heavens for information on the internet. I really have learned a lot because of my internet connection. It this point, I would recommend that anyone who wants to get into the fish hobby should have internet first.

I wouldn't trust PetSmart to name the loach correctly. I noticed their $9.99 sale on what they called a angelicus loach so I came back to this forum to research it. It sure didn't look like the angelicus pictures on this forum. I also got myself in trouble by buying what PetSmart labeled as an algae...

I'm afraid its too difficult emotionallyl to return the fish. I've become attached and can't imagine returning them to the little overstocked tanks at the pet store. Perhaps my 55 gal isn't the best but its got to be better than where they were. I'm checking out glasscages.com for an acrylic tank an...

Thanks for the quick responses. I guess I'll have at least a year before I need the bigger tank. I am a little worried about handling loaches because of their spines. I have a monster sized goldfish that really surprised me with its strength when we had to move it. It thrashed and was very difficult...

How soon do you think I will need to get a bigger tank? I know clown loaches grow at a faster rate while young but then they slow down. Are we talking months or years before they outgrow the 55 gal?

Hi. I'm afraid I bought before reading up on clown loaches. Trusted the tag and the clerk at Petsmart and brought home a clown loach. Poor thing got stuck in the net at the store and then again when moving it into my 55 gal tank. It became pale and spent its time hiding so to cheer it up, I bought a...