helodes update

The forum for the very best information on loaches of all types. Come learn from our membership's vast experience!

Moderator: LoachForumModerators

User avatar
Tinman
Posts: 1485
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:21 pm
Location: Kansas,USA

helodes update

Post by Tinman » Thu Jan 31, 2008 8:51 pm

Many of these fish are fattening up nicely , all have some full looking bellys now but a few of the skinnier loaches are all visible. There are three in particular I am concerned with but they seem healthy and vibrant and continue to eat well.
Image

I also have a vid of my striata's and their set-up. I have 20 Rummy-nosed Tetra's in another tank I will move in here soon for dithers along with the small Red-Violet Bruno Pleco thats in here now .
Image

and for anybody intrested in Blue Botia here is a video of mine which number about 20 and nothing happens. Its just like when company comes over and wants to see your fish. Fishkeepers know this I think. There is a spotted rapheal, small bichir , several rubber nose pleco's and a lone beauforti along with the visible fish in this video. None of the loaches show for long as I fed these earthworms yesterday for variety in the diet and they are still full apparently. I will vid this tank again another time to show the difference in the tanks activity levels as this would be none or lame imo.
This does however show my set up with the 3/4" pipe injecting directly through the surface in the corner by the fall.That alone is the airation and may give some idea of the flow of about 35 gallons US a minute. This is an old double bottomed reef tank with egg crate over the top of the lone fall to keep the botia in, or I should say Yasuhikotakia to be correct .
Image

User avatar
chefkeith
Posts: 2646
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:37 pm
Location: Detroit

Post by chefkeith » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:10 pm

Very cool vids.
I never knew helodes darted around like that. Do they ever bounce off the walls?

User avatar
Botia Robert
Posts: 299
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:13 am
Location: Brisbane, Australia.

Post by Botia Robert » Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:02 am

Pretty Cool Tinman!

BTW, Sorry if you have been asked this, but what do you use for dithers in your Syncrossus tanks?

User avatar
Mad Duff
Posts: 2821
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:58 am
Location: Middlesbrough, UK
Contact:

Post by Mad Duff » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:37 am

Great video's :)
Image

Pardon my honesty - I am a Northerner

14 loach species bred, which will be next?

mickthefish
Posts: 3281
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:20 pm
Location: manchester, england

Post by mickthefish » Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:55 am

great video's tinman, :wink: and the fish are looking great bud.
:D
mick

User avatar
Tinman
Posts: 1485
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:21 pm
Location: Kansas,USA

Post by Tinman » Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:56 am

Thanks everyone !!!!
BotiaRobert asked
BTW, Sorry if you have been asked this, but what do you use for dithers in your Syncrossus tanks?
Syncrossus ,of course. The helodes are in a helodes only tank :lol: They actually left small rumny nose alone that flowed into their tank from a fall tank above I have since moved so I may use something else but with that many fish in a tank I have no room for others and I may or may not be able to feed them.
I have 12 or so hymenophysa I may put with them eventually but getting them out if it does not work may be quite traumatic for all involved with such a dense population 8)

User avatar
Graeme Robson
Posts: 9096
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 4:34 am
Location: Peterborough, UK
Contact:

Post by Graeme Robson » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:22 am

Superb video's! :D
Image

User avatar
Keith Wolcott
Posts: 720
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 1:49 pm
Location: Charleston, Illinois USA

Post by Keith Wolcott » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:55 am

I enjoyed seeing the behavior of these fish. Thanks Tinman.

Mark in Vancouver
Posts: 14252
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 12:41 pm
Location: British Columbia

Post by Mark in Vancouver » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:41 pm

Pretty cool.
Your vantage point determines what you can see.

User avatar
Botia Robert
Posts: 299
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:13 am
Location: Brisbane, Australia.

Post by Botia Robert » Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:34 am

Tinman wrote: BotiaRobert asked
BTW, Sorry if you have been asked this, but what do you use for dithers in your Syncrossus tanks?
Syncrossus ,of course. The helodes are in a helodes only tank :lol: They actually left small rumny nose alone that flowed into their tank from a fall tank above I have since moved so I may use something else but with that many fish in a tank I have no room for others and I may or may not be able to feed them.
I have 12 or so hymenophysa I may put with them eventually but getting them out if it does not work may be quite traumatic for all involved with such a dense population 8)
Thanks Tinman. I dont know much about the Syncrossus family, Botia is keeping me busy! I was unaware Syncrossus did not need dithers like Botia prefer. I do understand you have a very high stocking density. Thanks again.

piggy4
Posts: 1017
Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:25 pm
Location: manchester

Post by piggy4 » Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:14 am

Fantastic Vid's Tinman ! really enjoyed them , as for the Helodes i think you will really learn a lot from this tank , i'd guess the Tetras were ignored because the Helodes are that busy with each other , is this the best way to keep Syncrossus Sp/s ? quite possibly .

User avatar
helen nightingale
Posts: 4717
Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:23 am
Location: London, UK

Post by helen nightingale » Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:02 am

in that last video, i am sure the fish in the next door tank were more interested inthe food theywerent getting :lol:

arent your striata little cuties? lovely videos

User avatar
Tinman
Posts: 1485
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:21 pm
Location: Kansas,USA

Post by Tinman » Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:15 am

Thanks for so many nice words . I will shoot some more of this tank too as they grow. I purchased 12 Syncrossus hymenophysa the other day but it seems at least 6 may actually be helodes so that is 6 more for this tank or so after qt. I will look some more as they color up and settle in and as I will be home with some time this weekend to watch.

Thanks Tinman. I dont know much about the Syncrossus family, Botia is keeping me busy! I was unaware Syncrossus did not need dithers like Botia prefer. I do understand you have a very high stocking density. Thanks again.
Thank you Botia Robert. I had never really considered dithers for this tank . I had more considered the needs of the helodes and never really considered adding others to this but now you have me thinking ....I have made a move to specific enviroments for each specie of loach lately. Reducing my compromise if you will.Except for 4 Albino red tail sharks and a few plecos,eel and one small cat who are all on clean up duty my baby loaches tank consists of entirely loaches. Loaches with loaches for dithers . :D


as for the Helodes i think you will really learn a lot from this tank , i'd guess the Tetras were ignored because the Helodes are that busy with each other , is this the best way to keep Syncrossus Sp/s ? quite possibly
I am learning daily. I really don't think they cared .The little guy was swimming around and the loaches just laying on the bottom. They are very quiet unless feeding or startled. I had assumed solo or specie specific was the best way to keep them hence this set up but now I wonder as stated above. Dithers would be possible.
I enjoyed seeing the behavior of these fish
Me too ,I will try to catch them on vid sleeping as they do mostly. The least number visible in the tank has been 7 so far. They actually all lay in the pipes mostly just jockeying for position in the pipe they are in. Each pipe seems to have the same alpha I am thinking, little neighborhoods inside the tank if you will with some fish obviously moving about but it seems most settle back where they started just like if there was 4 in the tank. :o
in that last video, i am sure the fish in the next door tank were more interested inthe food theywerent getting

arent your striata little cuties? lovely videos

Thanks Helen, The striata's really are the kittens of my set up.
Those barbs really eat and are always ready to eat They are in one of my big tanks there , thats where my 3 large Clowns and my big Rapheal live

User avatar
Rubix
Posts: 296
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:41 pm
Contact:

Post by Rubix » Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:28 pm

awesome vids thanks for sharing :)
in the syncrossus video, i love your "original one on the left", lovely looking specimen. based on his size you may want to consider throwing some larger diameter PVC in there as i'd worry they might get stuck :o
lovely striatas and it is unfortunate everyone was camera shy in the last video. 8)

mickthefish
Posts: 3281
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:20 pm
Location: manchester, england

Post by mickthefish » Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:36 pm

tinman, what size tanks are the helodes and striata in please, andy and i have been trying to work out the dimensions bud and wev'e both come to different sizes. :lol:

cheers
mick

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 400 guests