Loaches Online Forum

Please help,
I've got a sucking loach (Also known as the "Chinese Algae Eater") and it's attacking my other fish. It's leaving quite noticeably injury, although it's not life threatening. This has been going on a for a prolonged period of time and I’ve decided that it's time I do something about it, the pet shop are telling me to give it back, but I'd rather keep it in a separate tank as a side project - also this way I can have a few more loaches (my main tank is full).

So my questions are:
1) What size of a tank would you need to comfortably accommodate a 2 inch loach?
2) I've got catfish pellets and regular fish food, which should I feed it as it's main diet?
3) I've been told fish prefer company, how many other loaches should I put in with it?

Thank-you for reading,
Zefer

I'd second the return the CAE option.

You can read more about loaches and their preferences/needs here:
http://www.loaches.com/

What size is the tank you're considering starting?

Zefer wrote:Please help,
I've got a sucking loach (Also known as the "Chinese Algae Eater") and it's attacking my other fish. It's leaving quite noticeably injury, although it's not life threatening. This has been going on a for a prolonged period of time and I’ve decided that it's time I do something about it, the pet shop are telling me to give it back, but I'd rather keep it in a separate tank as a side project - also this way I can have a few more loaches (my main tank is full).

So my questions are:
1) What size of a tank would you need to comfortably accommodate a 2 inch loach?
2) I've got catfish pellets and regular fish food, which should I feed it as it's main diet?
3) I've been told fish prefer company, how many other loaches should I put in with it?

Thank-you for reading,
Zefer

Hi Zefer,

The chinese algae eater is not a loach and it develops a taste for fish slime. Here is a good site on algae eaters and what to look for when choosing one: Algae Eating Cyprinids from Thailand and Neighboring Areas

but to summerize:
Young specimens are more colorful. Maximum length is 27 cm (11") but normally it doesn't exceed 15 cm (6") in an aquarium.

Older specimens prefer artificial foods and are rather aggressive.

Water conditions: pH may vary from 6.0 to 7.5 and the temperature from 22C (72F) to 28C (82F). Water should be well oxygenated, as it comes from streams. Minimum tank size 100 liters (25 gallons).

Young Chinese Algae Eaters can be kept in community, but adult specimens can be aggressive to other fish. They most often attack slow-swimming, flat-bodied fish and shouldn't be kept with them.

I would return it if you are not too attached to it and try to get SAEs or Ottos.

OneWay

As Oneway said, the Chinese Algae Eater is not a Loach, and strangely enough, does not come from China. I almost bought some of them once, because I thought they were rather cute, but one of the staff at the store told me he would not reccommend them because of the taste they develop for the slime coat of other fish. I have since heard almost nothing but negative things about them, and if he is only 2" now, imagine the damage he could do if he were larger.

Having said this, however, I can also empathize if you are attatched to him and would like to keep him. If this is so, then you may be able to keep him with other CAE's, or possibly other aggressive fish who are fast swimmers. I'm sure that with a little research, you may be able to find out how to keep him successfully and what kind of fish might make suitable tankmates.

If you are interested in loaches, there are many very peaceful loaches that are great in a community aquarium. There are also species who are large or aggressive and best kept on their own, or in a large tank with similarly feisty companions. But for all the tremendous variety, you will find they all have very interesting behaviour and seem to have a way of winning over people's hearts.

Best of Luck to You..,
soul-hugger