Loaches Online Forum

So I have a fresh ready to go 10 gallon tank! It has a few live plants ans well as bogwood, a rounded gravel substrate, air bubbler (so a medium current), nice filtration/heater. Yep, those are the details(:

I LOVE loaches, neary all types, but my favorite would have to be the zebra loach! Would there be any possible way to keep a healthy threesome along with three platys?

I would say the tank is too small. I have 5 in my 30 gallon tank and planning to get 3 more so I dont know if my tank is too small?

A 10 gallon tank would hold 3 Platies, but not a lot more fish. I would prefer to suggest smaller fish than Platies if you want a larger quantity.

No, I would not suggest Zebra Loaches in a 10, except for a short time as a quarantine tank.

8 in a 30 might work if there is plenty of plants, rocks, driftwood and other things for them to play around. They are social fish and will usually share the space quite well, and will enjoy the company.

Keeping just 3 can work, but more is better, and even 3 are more playful in a larger setting.

Smaller Loaches that might work in a 10 might be some of the Schistura types. Be careful, though, some can be a bit territorial, and while keeping several in one tank can work, it is usually a larger tank, with more room for them to get out of each other's way.
Similar bottom fish might be Darter Tetras, also called Hummingbird Tetras, and some types of fresh water Gobies. Careful also with these. Again, some can be quite protective of their space, and I just do not see a 10 being large enough for them to have the territory they need. Even the Darter Tetras are not schooling fish.

For a 10 gallon tank:
Reds or oranges: Cherry Barbs, Ember Tetras, Dwarf Rasboras, Guppies and similar sized schooling fish.
Bottom Fish: Dwarf Cories (C. pygmaeus, habrosus and others.)
The smaller schooling fish (roughly 1" long) and the dwarf Cories are better choices in part because a 10 gallon tank is large compared to the size of the fish, and offers enough room for them to swim more actively compared to larger species that can barely get swimming before they have to slow down and turn around.

My tank is 32 inches wide, 125 litre so i hope its wide wnough for the 8 loaches. I have plenty of caves, plant pot and bog wood for hiding places.