Search found 1428 matches

by NancyD
Sun Jan 08, 2023 9:51 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.
Replies: 6
Views: 8812

Re: Clown Loaches now 29 years of age.

Happy Birthday to Athina & all your clowns loaches. As always, I wish you & all your clowns a happy new year. I love that you post every year around this time. It makes me glad to see how well your clowns are doing...something we should all aspire to!!
by NancyD
Tue Dec 20, 2022 8:00 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Tank sizes for group of loaches
Replies: 4
Views: 8183

Re: Tank sizes for group of loaches

I kept 6 or 7 histrionica in a 55g. I got them when they were small, 1.5 inches or so. I also had 6 denisonii barbs (roseline sharks), also smallish but grew faster. A 75 would have been better...but I ended up having to move house before they were quite adults, say 4+ inches. The only other fish we...
by NancyD
Sun Nov 20, 2022 12:49 am
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Let's talk the little-known built-in biomedia of a tank
Replies: 10
Views: 24706

Re: Let's talk the little-known built-in biomedia of a tank

I'm not much of a FB person either. But I'm 1 of very few who still visit this site & post regularly if at all. So what do you base your roselines vs goldfish diet & pooing on? AFAIK goldfish should be fed a diet heavy on plant materials but most? barbs like or do better on a diet higher in proteins...
by NancyD
Thu Nov 17, 2022 11:06 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Let's talk the little-known built-in biomedia of a tank
Replies: 10
Views: 24706

Re: Let's talk the little-known built-in biomedia of a tank

OK, you're missing a few points. Both fish poo & uneaten food look exactly the same in filter media or vacuumed out water/debris. How are you telling the difference? & this is based on 1 month's worth of (iffy) data?! Roselines are NOT the same as any goldfish in body mass, food consumption, temp, f...
by NancyD
Wed Nov 16, 2022 11:08 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Let's talk the little-known built-in biomedia of a tank
Replies: 10
Views: 24706

Re: Let's talk the little-known built-in biomedia of a tank

OK an interesting experiment but that seems like maybe overfeeding or a subjective way of measuring the filter gunk. I always have plants so there's some debris even with prefilters. Detritus can be from poo, uneaten food, & in my tanks, plant debris, it all looks the same when it breaks down. I kno...
by NancyD
Tue Nov 15, 2022 1:17 am
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Black Friday photos!
Replies: 6
Views: 23439

Re: Black Friday photos!

I'm not sure I agree with your theory. I had fairly high flow & oxygenation but did have seasonal higher temps in their tank when the sun came in a small window at the west end of their tank in fall. I shaded it but it was still warmer than at other times of year. So many variables...it's hard to sa...
by NancyD
Sun Nov 13, 2022 8:52 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Black Friday photos!
Replies: 6
Views: 23439

Re: Black Friday photos!

I loved my zebras (b. striatas). They were a bit shy but I only was able to get 6 (they were called yoyos, lol). Go for many more, you won't be sorry! Mine were very slow growers. They were between 1-1.5 inches when I got them & never got more than 3.5in or so after 7 or 8 years. Then I had to move....
by NancyD
Thu Nov 10, 2022 12:09 am
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Identifying my loaches sex
Replies: 1
Views: 6386

Re: Identifying my loaches sex

Well, most males have longer & pointier pectoral fins than the rounded 1s of females. Females also tend to be fatter in the "stomach" area just before their vent. Can you post a couple of pics? We can probably help, it's not too hard if they're almost adults. What size are they? In inches or cm, we ...
by NancyD
Mon Nov 07, 2022 1:02 am
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Could this be why kuhli loaches are reported to hide so much?
Replies: 1
Views: 8614

Re: Could this be why kuhli loaches are reported to hide so much?

My experiences with 2 species of pangios were different than what you saw. I had 8? p. semicincta in a 20g long plant tank. They were very mellow & 2 often hung out in floating plants at the surface...to the point I could reach in for a water change, or just to check on their health without them mov...
by NancyD
Sat Nov 05, 2022 12:30 am
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Let's talk the little-known built-in biomedia of a tank
Replies: 10
Views: 24706

Re: Let's talk the little-known built-in biomedia of a tank

Well, I agree up to a point. Your tank will only grow enough beneficial nitrifying bacteria to deal with the bioload from a given amout of fish & food. If you suddenly remove a filter's amount of BB there will be a "lag time" until it can grow enough to compensate. Theoretically it can double in 24 ...
by NancyD
Sun Oct 30, 2022 9:55 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Praise be to silica pool filter sand!
Replies: 3
Views: 10489

Re: Praise be to silica pool filter sand!

I have used pool filter sand in several tanks with good results. There are different "grades" of PFS. The "usual" is 20 grade (we used it in our swimming pool filter). It's a bit big for small sand sifters. I used both 20 grade & #1 (I think similar to grade 10); #0 was very fine & almost dusty in s...
by NancyD
Wed Oct 19, 2022 8:58 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Need some stocking advice for my second loach tank
Replies: 51
Views: 50492

Re: Need some stocking advice for my second loach tank

Cool you saw eggs! I had p. curneovirgata females carry eggs all the time but never any spawning or egg releases. Just fat greenish tummies with no change in shape. Maybe it's all your water changes that triggered that?
by NancyD
Wed Oct 19, 2022 8:37 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: New Member with Sewellia Lineolata
Replies: 9
Views: 8436

Re: New Member with Sewellia Lineolata

nick, I would try for 2 females & 1 male. They don't really fight like some fish, more just some pushing & a little chasing. 10-12 of mine often sleep in a non-touching group on the front glass. That makes me think they enjoy each others company. Get a couple more I have a rimmed tank & never had an...
by NancyD
Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:44 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: New Member with Sewellia Lineolata
Replies: 9
Views: 8436

Re: New Member with Sewellia Lineolata

I can only add my limited experience keeping sewellia lineolata. But they breed with survivors sometimes! I keep mine in an unheated 55g (4ft) tank. I have 2 HOB filters (AC 70s) & a powerhead along the back (Maxijet 1200). I have plants, mostly cryptocorines, "jungle val" & bolbitus but lots of pes...
by NancyD
Sun Oct 09, 2022 11:52 pm
Forum: Loach Forum
Topic: Need some stocking advice for my second loach tank
Replies: 51
Views: 50492

Re: Need some stocking advice for my second loach tank

I often think the "suggested" temp range of fish is not necessarily the optimal for a given species. Too high a temp & fish can be more active but may live shorter lives. Too low & they may be less active, eat less but live slightly longer lives. Many are just a "guesstimate" based on where most of ...