Loaches Online Forum

The fish quantity should not be a problem.

Peat floats much more easily than sand, I would not use it in a tank with any burrowing fish. When I used it in a tank with Angelfish (not diggers at all) the plants still had peat settling out onto the leaves whenever I did a water change. You might look into some of the ADA product line. When it i...

If yours are currently living together, then getting more of the same (either species) would be good. If you want a different species then check the species sheets here. While almost all Pangios are social in a similar way, there are a few that might not get along with the others. http://www.loaches...

An irritation, such as from fighting, can get infected. White is more often fungus, red tissues more often suggest bacteria, but this is by no means always true. I would do a few extra water changes, concentrating on vacuuming the caves and corners and any other areas with less water flow, especiall...

That is great he is doing better! So, it seems there was something going on that the Kanaplex helped with. I don't think it matters how many fish are in a group, as long as there are enough. There will always be a lower ranking fish, and a larger group can certainly separate into 2 or more groups (o...

Your post is exactly right: As many bacteria as there normally are in the tank, healthy fish generally can deal with them. When something happens to weaken a fish and the bacteria grow in population (such as an injury) this does indeed suggest the possibility that other fish can be affected. Extra w...

Good that you did some research about how stable the medicine is when it is exposed to some warmth. I do not know if any of the other fish have a severe enough case of whatever this is to show symptoms, but they definitely have been exposed. If you start offering the whole tank some antibiotics, the...

I have found the fish seem to prefer brine shrimp of the 3 you mention. They will eat live (moving) anything, but if it is dried it needs to have flavor or scent. (yes, fish can smell the food). Anything that will dampen the food can help the medicine to stick, but I am not sure that all moisture so...

How about the rather adaptable Zebra Loach, Botia striata? http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-striata Make sure they have some caves to get away from the aggressive Cichids. They (like most Loaches)will eat shrimp, and will probably pester the snails, perhaps kill them. Zebra Loaches are goo...

To provide a bit of cover alight a rock or something next to the front wall of the tank. When the fish wants to get out of the water flow or light they will be in full view where you can see them.

More light to grow algae.
You can try fresh or lightly cooked vegetables, and if you can get the Repashy foods, a lot of fish will eat these when they do not eat dry foods.

http://www.onlineconversion.com/ This will convert many measurements. Here are a few formulas that are pretty easy to use followed by the more accurate formula. Just for a really quick conversion- use the top formula to get in the ballpark. then the more accurate conversion- use the lower formula fo...

Loaches are a lot of fun, lots of personality. Well worth some research then a special set up to suit the species you want.
Many work fine in a community tank.

I do not know if there are any Loaches small enough to work in that set up, and large enough to eat snails.
Most Loaches are social fish and should be kept in groups.

How about keeping Loaches in another tank and baiting to catch the snails. Then toss the snails into the Loach tank.

Are there plenty of caves or arches of wood or other places for them each to claim, and for the submissive one to get out of the line of site of the dominant one? If you can set up something like that you can then start to target feed each one in his (or her) favorite spot. Perhaps at opposite ends ...