Help with sun loaches

[familyfound]

Our 2 sun loach (serpentine and pink) are drifting with the current at the top of the tank and hanging in the leaves of the large plants. We have several various tetras, 1 elephant nose, a red tailed shark, a placostomus & a loach which looks like a pike with whiskers. I am not sure if they are getting along with this guy or not. They don't really go near him. They are eating but they are not going to the bottom of the tank to feed and they are not hiding in the rocks like they use to. My research said they are bottom feeders. The tank is 36" x 18" x 13", aerator is at the opposite end to the filter to maximize flow. Any advise appreciated.

[Emma Turner]

Hi familyfound, welcome to Loaches Online.

When you say Sun Loaches, do you mean Yasuhikotakia eos: http://www.loaches.com/species-index/yasuhikotakia-eos Or do you have another species (I'm thinking that by the names, they might be something else?).

Could you tell us a bit more about the tank, how long has it been set up for, and what are your current water parameters? (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, hardness). Also what temp is the tank on, and what type of filtration are you using? Is there much water movement at the surface? Your tank is a little overstocked and has rather a mis-match of fish, which potentially, depending on species, will outgrow this home quite quickly. How often and how much water do you change?

If you are unsure which loach species you have, have a look in our species index: http://www.loaches.com/species-index

Sorry for all the questions, but the answers will help us to build up a picture of what is happening.

Emma

[Mark in Vancouver]

I'm also curious about the loach that looks like "a pike with whiskers." Without knowing much about your tank, it sounds like you might be dealing with some loaches that most of us would consider difficult and aggressive.

To identify the second loach, go to Emma's link above and look at the genus Syncrossus. If we can nail down that species it would probably be helpful information for your tank, too.

[nurseshelly]

Perhaps the second loach is this?
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/mi ... -mizolepis
At Petsmart and Petco, they call these Dojo loaches, but it is not what this site calls a Dojo loach. Both this and what this site calls a Dojo loach are refered to as "weather loaches" though. Anyway, I have two of these, and they remind me very much of a pike with whiskers.

[Martin Thoene]

Hi familyfound ande welcome to LOL. Whereabouts in Ontario are you?

Knowing the exact species would be helpful in answering your question.
The name "Sun Loach" is apparently what you bought them under right?
Go to the Pictorial Species Index and work your way through the steps and hopefully you can get to what you have and tell us the scientific name.

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/pi ... e-pictures

Martin.

[starsplitter7]

Could you post pictures of the fish and the tank? Thanks, Tanja.