Need Help Deciding on Loaches

[Barb]

I have a 75 gallon aquarium. I would like to have a school of loaches. I looked through the list and thought these might be possibilities:Botio Histronica, Kuboti, Rostrata, Yasuhiko Takia Sidthimunki, Yas. Nigrolineata, and Rosy Loaches.

I thought the Dwarf loaches were cute (now I can't remember the scientific name). I don't want to make the mistake of getting fish that are going to be too big for the tank. I'm also going to have some little fish, danios, neons.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Blue]

If you want Yasuhikotakia sidthimunki, Trigonostigma hengeli and zebra danios would make suitable tankmates.

[clownloachfan]

I would reccomend the Botia histrionica, B. Kubotai, B. rostrata and the Y. sidthimunki. Any of these wouldnt outgrow a 75 gallon.

[Barb]

I am going to check those out agin. Clown Loach Fan - we are both from Southeastern PA!!

[clownloachfan]

Really, thats awesome. I live in New Oxford. It is about 10 minutes away from Gettysburg. Where do you live?

[Barb]

I just outside of the Phoenixville/Valley Forge area. We are probably about two hours away. I wish I would have known - I had two clown loaches that I wanted to find another home for because I had them in a 75 gallon tank, which I've since been told was too small. I had them for three years and then recently I had two consecutive outbreaks of ich - they survived the first but couldn't survive the second. They both died a little over a week ago when I was on a business trip. It is reallysad.

So, that's why I'm doing my homework. I really loved their personalities.

From what I'm reading in the species list, it seems like I need to change my gravel to sand. Is that true? If so, that will be something new for me - how do you clean sand?

[clownloachfan]

Sorry to hear about your clowns. Wow, you are the second person in two days that has offered me their clown loaches .

Sand is not neccesary. River gravel is fine. Make sure they are pebbles that are nicely rounded and smooth. Small pebbles are the best. Sand is appreciated though, i dont use it. I am not really sure how you would rinse sand either.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Not absolutely necessary to change to sand, but it depends on what your gravel is like. I always use pond filter sand in my tanks, which is fairly coarse, but fine enough to burrow and dig in. Chunky gravel is probably not ideal.

[Barb]

Well, I started as a blue gravel and plastic plant and castle kind of person. Now, I have natural rocks, live plants, real wood and a hollow log that is a good hiding place. But, I still have the blue gravel. It's not rounded. It sounds like I need to make that change to a different type of gravel?

[clownloachfan]

It sounds like it will be fine to me, but, I am the same as you. I like the natural look. So chuck that blue garvel out and get the natural rounded river gravel.

[Emma Turner]

Hi Barb,

A lot of (but not all) coloured gravels tend to be quite rough on the barbels. Sand will need rinsing, like you would gravel (fill a bucket 1/3 with the sand, add clean water, swish round, pour away water and add more clean water and repeat till it is almost clear), but it doesn't tend to be quite as dirty as most gravels. You just need to make sure it is inert so that it doesn't make the water hard (coral gravel/sand and the like sold for marine/rift lake set ups is unsuitable). When it comes to maintenance, this is much easier with sand as any crap not taken out by the filtration system will sit on top of the sand instead of fall between the stones where it would be hidden. When you siphon water out of the tank for a water change with a length of flexible hose, just hover a couple of cm above the sand, and this will pull out any debris with the water that is being discarded. At first you may suck out a little sand, but you will get used to the distance you need to move the hose over the top of it and what you lose will be insignificant.

It's really easy to maintain, looks more natural, and will be thoroughly appreciated by your loaches.

Hope this helps,

Emma

[Barb]

Oh, okay - I was thinking debris would have to be vacuumed out the same way I have to go deep into the gravel. Will the sand be okay for other fish like neons and danios?

[clownloachfan]

Yes, the danios and tetras will be fine with sand. It doesnt really matter to them as they hover mostly in the middle to tope area. My zebra danios do occasionaly go down to the bottom and pick at the gravel.

[loachmom]

Wow, you are the second person in two days that has offered me their clown loaches .

Are you looking for clown loaches right now?

[clownloachfan]

yes, where do you live in pa?