Too many loaches for one tank?

[marisseas]

Many of my friends claim that 4 clown loaches and 2 weather loaches are overcrowding my bottom in my 125 gallon tank, however I've heard of people keeping much more than that and having the loaches thrive. Other inhabits of the tank include 2 angelfish, 2 red nose tetras, 1 killifish, 5-7 hybrid mollies, 1 betta, 2 red tail sharks, 1 albino rainbow shark, 1 common snail (a leftover snack), 1 clown pleco, 1 common pleco (will be rehomed in the future), and a few plants and various river rocks. My question is, how many is too many? I'd love to add more loaches since I've become obsessed with the enchanting creatures, but I want my fish to remain happy and am wary of overcrowding after receiving advice that I already had too many. Besides loaches, the only other fish I may eventually put in are a few more angelfish.

[Marcos Mataratzis]

Welcome to LOL marisseas,

I definetely don´t think 4 Clown Loaches is a bottom overcroud for a 125 gallon tank, even if they are 8" or so. I, myself, have 23 Clowns from 4 to 8" among other loaches in a 119 gallon tank.

Marcos.

[marisseas]

Thanks! Do you change the water more than once a week?

[Marcos Mataratzis]

I do at least two 20% water changes a week, vaccuming the gravel. Once a month I do an extra 40% WC.

[Diana]

Not too many, but the wrong species. Have a look here at the species descriptions, but the Weather Loaches are cool water fish, optimum temperature in the mid 50s to mid 70sF, but the cooler range is better.
Clown Loaches are a tropical fish, thriving in temperatures in the uppermost 70s F to low 80sF.
Celsius: Weather Loaches: under 25*C
Clowns: over 25*C

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/cl ... cracanthus

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/we ... licaudatus

Fish with only 1 degree (F or C) of overlap really are not great tank mates. An aquarium is difficult to keep at that exact temperature, and it means that both fish are living at the extreme of their comfort range. Much better to maintain each of these species in a separate tank that is kept closer to the middle of their optimum range.

I would be concerned about the sharks. They can be rather territorial. A 125 (6' long) can have plenty of space for these guys, if there are plenty of caves.

[marisseas]

Thank you. I've tried to make sure that there are many caves for them to stake territory in. I realize I should not have put weather loaches in a tropical tank just tracing their comfort zone now that you mention it, and plan on getting a small pond or a species tank for them.

[starsplitter7]

Get a large enough tank to add more Dojos when you have a chance. They love to dogpile. I always find mine together. Recently I added a huge clump of Java moss, and now they hang out in the java moss. If I have floating plants, they are all in the plants.

[FSM]

There are people with dozens of loaches in tanks smaller than yours.

[Diana]

There are people with dozens of loaches in tanks smaller than yours.

There are dozens of species of Loaches, and some are a lot smaller than others. I have many Loaches in tanks ranging from 15 gallons up to 125, but I am careful to keep each species in a tank that is larger enough for them to be able to spread out according to their natures.

The OP is right to ask, and is getting good info: The tank is not over crowded. Either Clown Loaches OR Dojo Loaches can be kept in a 125, in enough numbers to make a reasonable social group (5 or more of the same species). The concern is that these two species are not so compatible in their temperature preferences.

5 Clown Loaches and a school of upper level tank mates could work well in this tank, or 5+ Dojo Loaches and some cooler water tank mates can work.