Do Loaches EAT Other Kinds of Fish?

bld · Post by **bld** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:05 am

I'm taking care of a friend's fish tank...she said she had ONLY 2 frogs and 1 catfish left. It was dirty.

I decided to clean it up and add more fish as a present for her.

I've discovered at least 2 LONG (maybe at least 4 inches) Loaches - look like large, long worms. One is brightly stripped; the other is palely stripped.

The Fresh Water Fish are DISAPPEARING!!! ARE THE LOACHES EATING THEM???

Thanks.

bld · Post by **bld** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 2:24 am

about Loaches. I've never been close to one before and don't know anything about them.

A man at the fish store told me a Loach might eat the fish...I don't know anything to do but ask...

I'm keeping a close watch on the tank and nothing seems to be wrong...just missing fish.

Thank you for any useful information.

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:19 am

hi bld, from your discription your freind has kuhli loach and they are harmless,
i think you hit the nail on the head by saying the tank was dirty and that's why she's losing the fish.

mick

bld · Post by **bld** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:02 am

[b]TO mickthefish[/b] you said: [quote]from your discription your freind has kuhli loach and they are harmless,[/quote]

[b]The Brightly colored Loach has bands of EQUAL WIDTH[/b]. The only Kuhli pictures I've seen show a large band next to a small band...

[b]Do you know where I can find a pictured one like this?[/b]

Thanks!

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:05 am

See this link.
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/species-index

Do you have pics of those fish?

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:17 am

I would say that the new fish are either dying because they are already ill or poor quality or (and possibly 'and' as well) the tanks filter is inadequate and they fish are exposed to Ammonia , Nitrite and Nitrate any of which can be damaging if not lethal. If the filters' bacteria have been cleaned away or the filter is only large enough to cope with a small bio-load then any additions will die as the bacteria colony struggles to cope with the additional toxins and wastes.
Also what species of Frog and Catfish are they? Dependant on the species they could also be the cause or part of the cause of the disappearing fish.

bld · Post by **bld** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:37 am

TO BLUE: I've looked at EVERY Loach on your site and every other site I have been able to find...for HOURS...also looked at eels.

TO DOC: The frogs are SMALL. The Cat is a Green Cory.

I keep thinking I've seen something like this colorful "Loach" in the past ... at the Zoo. Maybe just a bad memory and I've seen this one in years past. I just can NOT find ANYTHING that looks like it on line...so far.

bld · Post by **bld** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:57 am

also:

The Larger Strong Colored and longer one sticks to the bottom when he moves and seems to move very little. I've only seen him twice.

The other shorter of about the same size with dull colored bands seems to FLY ERRATICALLY ALL AROUND BOUNCING OFF OF THE SIDES OF THE TANK before shooting under something again.

BOTH seem to have Equal Width Bands; although I've had difficulty getting a good look at the smaller which seems to have a faded red color.

The Tank is about 10 gals.

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:04 am

the best thing we can have to ID your friends fish is a picture of it,
with all the loach people on here they will tell you what they are.
even if it's a poor pic.
have you looked at pangio myersi?.

sorry to muck you about.
mick

bullisbm · Post by **bullisbm** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:04 pm

Is it one of these?

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/pangio-myersi

bld · Post by **bld** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:33 pm

NO...haven't seen it yet.

The Bands are smooth even, sided and EQUAL WIDTH.

I'll go try AGAIN to get a picture...failed before.

Thanks for all the help.

zmo63 · Post by **zmo63** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:04 pm

I hope you can get a picture - I'm dying to see this fish! Sounds beautiful. Does it look like the pangios/kuhlis except for the pattern?

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:22 pm

Have you looked at pictures of other Loaches?
Look at pictures of Aborichthys , Schistura, Parabotia to name a few. All have some type of barring on the body and are fairly elongated. They may well be some form of Pangio.
They may not be a Loach at all but could well be small Spiny Eel species, this is unlikely but a distant possibility.
As soon as you can get a picture (even a blurred one will do) we shold be able to help you.

LoachOrgy · Post by **LoachOrgy** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:44 am

my clowns eat zebra danios for some reason....

shari2 · Post by **shari2** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:55 am

Hi bid,

even small frogs have larger mouths than you may think...

what were the fish that disappeared? How many were there? How many bands would you guess are on the striped fish? what size is the tank?
you mentioned the larger striped fish seemed to suck onto things? ever seen it stuck to the side of the tank, or is it decor it clings to?

sorry for all the questions...i'm very curious as to what those fish may be.

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Do Loaches EAT Other Kinds of Fish?

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